Kucinich: Bush's Support of Rumsfeld 'Misses the Whole Point'
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2004

Contact: Matt Harris, (216) 403-3980, press@kucinich.us, Terre Lundy, (515) 988-5534

President Bush's endorsement today of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld "misses the whole point of the growing outcry from people all over the world regarding what's happening in Iraq," Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said today.

"Who is or isn't the secretary of defense is not the issue," said Kucinich. "It's the war that's wrong. The policy of this administration is wrong. As long as Bush is in the White House, it doesn't matter who's in the Pentagon. Nothing will change -ˆ except that it will get worse."

Kucinich, campaigning in Oregon, said continuing promises from the Administration "to do whatever it takes" represent "a formula for turning a disaster into a catastrophe."

"Every day we stay there, there are more deaths and more horror stories," Kucinich said. "There was no credible, justifiable, or honorable reason for invading Iraq in the first place. For the President, the Secretary, and other members of the Bush War Council to vow that the United States will remain there 'until the job is done' is outrageous. What job? Who defines 'done'?"

Kucinich said the debate over coalition mistreatment and torture of Iraqi detainees, over the size and firepower of U.S. forces there, and over the growing financial costs "is the wrong debate. We should be debating how soon we can bring this nightmare to an end and bring our troops home."

Last year, early in his campaign, Kucinich, who led the opposition on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to the 2002 war authorization resolution, laid out a 10-point plan to end U.S. involvement in Iraq. Some elements of his exit strategy, including substantial U.N. involvement in developing an interim government and managing Iraqi assets and reconstruction contracts, have been embraced by political leaders in both parties in recent months.

For information about the National campaign: http://www.kucinich.us

For Congressman Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm.

To schedule an interview with Kucinich or a spokesperson: jonathans@kucinich.us

- posted by Daniel @ 6:28 AM

 
Kucinich cancels Rapid City visit

RAPID CITY -- Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich has canceled his planned weekend trip to Rapid City.

Kucinich will skip his trip in order to talk about the war in Iraq on the Sunday morning television program "Meet the Press" on NBC, according to an announcement issued late Friday afternoon.

(Chicago, IL — WMAQ, 10:00 AM Sunday)

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 6:19 AM

 
A very unique and wonderful movie about a special place at the heart of Madison, WI: http://www.streetswithoutcars.com
This is an absolute trasure, leave off the big time politics and environmental discourse and take a look at one of the most unusual places that grace this country.
- posted by Daniel @ 5:58 PM

 
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Great Lakes News: 21 May 2004
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium.

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Sportsmen's groups balk at Bush's Great Lakes plan
----------------------------------------
Saying the Great Lakes cannot afford another year's delay in clean-up
efforts, a coalition of sportsmen's groups is pressing Congress to approve
billions in new funding. Source: Booth Newspapers (5/21)


Granholm agrees to federal purchase of Humbug Marsh
----------------------------------------
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has agreed to allow the federal government
to purchase the Humbug Marsh, 400 acres of environmentally sensitive land
along the lower Detroit River, as part of an international wildlife refuge.
Source: Detroit Free Press (5/21)


Battle-ready PM launches $125M waterfront plan
----------------------------------------
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin came to Toronto yesterday to announce
$125 million to spruce up the waterfront just days before he is expected to
call an election in which his majority government hangs in the balance.
Source: The Toronto Star (5/21)


Lake levels exceed expectations
----------------------------------------
Lakes Michigan and Huron are rising faster than normal for spring, according
to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, potentially signaling a significant
trend away from the low levels that have caused many shoreline problems in
recent years. Source: The Green Bay Press-Gazette (5/21)


Man-made peninsula becomes haven for migratory birds
----------------------------------------
A Lake Erie peninsula created from polluted soil scooped off the bottom of
the Cuyahoga River has become a traveler's rest area for birds migrating
through Ohio. Source: The Akron Beacon Journal (5/21)


Chequamegon Bay is priority site in Nature Conservancy's campaign
----------------------------------------
The Nature Conservancy has announced a statewide initiative to protect some
of Wisconsin's most outstanding lands and waters, including the largest
undeveloped wetland complex remaining in the Great Lakes region. Source: The
Ashland Daily Press (5/20)


Watershed summit shows how students relate to science
----------------------------------------
A monitoring program involving teams of high school students from the Green
Bay area helped them learn about the science of stream ecology while
providing long-term data for predicting impacts on the lower Fox River
watershed. Source: The Green Bay Press-Gazette (5/20)


Ceremony to dedicate 'Coastal Highway'
----------------------------------------
A long-awaited marketing strategy for Michigan's US-23 corridor, from now on
known as the "Sunrise Side Coastal Highway," will showcase what's best and
brightest about the Lake Huron side of the state. Source: The Bay City Times
(5/19)


MacArthur Lock to close for inspection
----------------------------------------
In a rare in-season closure, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced
that one of the Soo Locks will be dewatered for inspection next month.
Source: The Sault Ste. Marie Evening News (5/18)

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html


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- posted by Daniel @ 5:19 PM

 
Kucinich outlines plan for 'peace with honor' in Iraq
By Terry Dillman Of the News-Times


U.N. in, U.S. out.

Distilled to its essence, that is the Dennis Kucinich plan to end what he calls the "illegal and unjustified" war in Iraq, and take a giant step toward restoring America's credibility throughout the world.

Kucinich, a Democratic Congressman from Ohio, outlined his plan as part of a May 15 presidential primary campaign stop at Lincoln City's Bijou Theatre.

A standing-room-only crowd filled the 172-seat theatre to greet and hear Kucinich, who - despite the almost inevitable nomination of Massachusetts Senator John Kerry as his party's nominee for president - has stayed the course for one "primary" reason: To work for much-needed change within the Democratic Party. He wants to remain the voice of those people whose issues Kerry and other party leaders are either ignoring or not discussing.

"The Democratic Party needs every vote to win in November," he said. "We must stand for something that represents the values and practical aspirations of American citizens."

Elected to Congress in 1996, the former Cleveland mayor is the only presidential candidate who voted against the "civil liberties-shredding" PATRIOT Act. He also rallied opposition to the war in Iraq, raising it from a small group of dissenters to the almost two-thirds of House Democrats who voted against the war resolution. Kucinich has also emerged as a national political leader of the progressive movement, and his focus on the primary in Oregon, where many progressive initiatives get their start, aimed at tallying enough votes to send a message to the presumptive nominee and party leaders to indicate "they don't represent your views on the issues."

Kucinich backs universal health care with a single payer plan; full Social Security benefits at age 65; withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement and World Trade Organization; a woman's right to choose, the right to privacy, and civil rights; balance between worker's rights and corporate profits; quality education from pre-kindergarten through college; environmental protection and clean energy; restoring rural communities and family farms; repealing the PATRIOT Act; and a renewed commitment to peace.

Peace emerged as the central theme in Lincoln City.

Standing in...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 5:14 PM

 
The Iraq Exit Strategy! or Why Only Saddam Hussein Can Save Iraq and the USA!

A Satire (or is it?) by James Boyne

OpEdNews.Com

The answer may sound crazy but Iraq is a crazy place; the predicament that President Bush has gotten us into is crazy; and the solution to the problem of extricating ourselves with honor from the quagmire of Iraq is crazy.

The answer is to turn Iraq back over to Saddam Hussein; let him have his one-candidate election with him as the principal candidate; and let him re-establish his rule over Iraq . It seems perfectly logical; as logical as the situation that exists right now.

Before the Iraq invasion, defeat, liberation, and subsequent disastrous occupation the U.S. maintained complete control of Iraq airspace through our enforced no-fly zones. This provided us with total aerial photo intelligence the likes of which no sovereign state has ever submitted to. We also controlled the Iraq economy and its sole source of revenue and income through the mandated U.N. sanctions and the U.N. oil for food program. We had also destroyed more than 50% of its...(Full Sad Tale of Woe)
- posted by Daniel @ 5:11 PM

 
Kucinich also will be interviewed Monday morning on Yellowstone Public Radio, for more information, call Paul Whiting at 252-5647 or e-mail him at paulwhiting@bresnan.net
- posted by Daniel @ 4:58 PM

 
Kucinich to campaign in state starting Sunday

By IR State Bureau - 05/21/04

HELENA, MT — Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich will campaign in six Montana cities from Sunday to Tuesday, campaign spokesman Paul Edwards of Helena said Thursday.

Kucinich is campaigning for Montana's June 8 presidential primary and will visit Billings, Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Butte and Bozeman at events open to the public.

An Ohio congressman and former Cleveland mayor, Kucinich is...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 4:57 PM

 
** Wow. I think a lot of us feel like this but it's being said in the press now? That's amazing. Guess they have stirred hornets nests all over the planet. **

Impeach the SOB: Damn the Republicans — Full Speed Ahead!

By Daniel Patrick Welch

It’s time to stop beating around this Bush and start beating up on him — but good. There is no set of humanitarian or democratic principles by which this administration would not have been removed in any sane society. The last election was questionable at best, and his reckless, dangerous and criminal actions in the ensuing years have shown the whole world he is unfit to govern. The only democratic remedy, impeachment, was set aside early and forcibly by an opposition still afraid of its own shadow. It did make some sense, early on, to argue that, since the Greasy Oil Plutocrats (GOP) controlled both houses, it was a waste of time and energy.

Cynical political calculation is the currency of a failed “democracy,” and Washington is crawling with sellouts and political weathervanes. In the Sausage Factory that is the legislative process, anyone who wants to get anything done had best be ready to hold her nose and roll up her sleeves. Still, principle still counts for something. To hear either of the Mega-Parties talk, you’d think they were all about principle. Grandiose rhetoric covers the tiniest focus-grouped nuances; minor tweaks to failed policies are disguised as major ideological shifts, their proponents bravely marching, Quixote-style, into the windmill of their ever-so-slightly differing opponents.

So maybe it’s time for a simple, radical proposition: Truth is True. Of course Republicans will fight impeachment like crazy — so what? Anyway, it’s past time to put to rest the right-wing myth that Nixon was “hounded out of office” by the opposition. By the time Barry Goldwater met with Nixon to tell him the jig was up, he reported that the president could expect no more than 10 votes in the Senate. “And,” he is reported to have added, “I’m not one of them.” Politicians don’t always toe the party line, especially when it is one drawn in the sand by a crook.

The damage done to decades-long international agreements, to the reputation of the U.S., and simply the revulsion at all the atrocities committed in our name, is almost beyond calculation, and quite likely beyond repair. Cornered at every turn, the thieves and liars of this junta respond to every new self-inflicted crisis with greater abandon. There are dangerous and powerful forces trying to keep this man in power, and there is no doubt that confronting them head on will prove difficult. But there is no choice left. The iceberg whose tip is now poking its way into the eye of a weary world is gargantuan, and will not melt of its own accord. These men intended all along to shred the Geneva Convention, the US constitution and every safeguard in between. The “Iraq Prison Abuse Scandal,” a misnomer if ever there was one, is not about a few hicks on a rampage. Anyone with a brain could see that immediately, and once again we were proven right. The attempt to end-run the CIA and establish a fully secret system of torture and “intelligence gathering” lays bare the core of these men’s “principles:” utter contempt for democracy and due process.

It should be something of a clue to learn that the CIA was too accountable for these guys. The CIA, as we well know, is loath to bend any rules or skirt accountability in pursuit of its own shadowy goals. Doug Feith, apparently, knows better than the CIA, and he wouldn’t trust them for ... well, let’s say for all the assassination manuals in Central America.

It has become the unspeakable, torturous mess we knew it would, and they still won’t come clean. That’s why they...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 4:49 PM

 
NewsChannel5 Takes Gas Petition To D.C.
Petition Contains About 14,000 Signatures

POSTED: 8:58 am EDT May 20, 2004
CLEVELAND -- For the past several months, NewsChannel5 and NewsNet5 have been On Your Side, collecting online signatures from viewers who are outraged about skyrocketing gas prices...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 4:47 PM

 
May 19, 2004

Kerry wins, but Kucinich snags nine delegates

By David Steves
and Randi Bjornstad
The Register-Guard

With a vast majority of the nation's Democratic delegates already pledged to Sen. John Kerry, the only suspense in Oregon's presidential primary involved the margin of Kerry's victory over his remaining mainstream rival, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich.

Statewide, Kucinich was trailing with 16 percent of the vote, or enough to pick up nine of Oregon's Democratic delegates for the national nominating convention this summer in Boston. Kerry's dominating 81 percent will give him the remaining 49 Oregon delegates when his party convenes in his home state.

In a Lane County primary where the turnout approached 50 percent and the vote-counting went smoothly, Kucinich had 20 percent of the vote to Kerry's 78 percent, based on partial returns.

Kucinich's ability to capture a sizable chunk of Democratic votes in an already-decided nomination race resulted from his unorthodox decision to...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 10:24 AM

 
16% - Kucinich defies expectations
Focusing on Oregon, presidential underdog draws high percentage of primary vote

Matt Petrie - mpetrie@pdx.edu
May 20, 2004

Ohio Representative and Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich took 16 percent of the presidential vote in Tuesday night's Oregon Democratic primary, surpassing even the expectations of many of his supporters. Sen. John Kerry received 81 percent.

Whether the number is enough to force the Kerry campaign to pay heed to Kucinich supporters' issues is still unclear.

Local campaign organizers had predicted yesterday that he would receive at least five percent of the vote, but said they did not expect to receive more than 25 percent.

Due to voter turnout in support of Kucinich, the congressman will...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 10:18 AM

 
Dean to address Hawaii
Democrats convention
By B.J. REYES
Associated Press Writer

HONOLULU - Former presidential candidate Howard Dean is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the Hawaii Democratic Party's annual convention next weekend.

Convention organizers received confirmation Tuesday that Dean had accepted the party's invitation, said state party chairman Alex Santiago.

Although the former Vermont governor finished fourth in Hawaii's Feb. 24 caucus, Santiago noted that Dean still has "literally hundreds" of supporters in Hawaii.

Santiago said he expects convention delegates to rally around Dean regardless of who they support.

"There's no one questioning who the nominee is going to be at this point," he said. "We are rallying everyone together. We are saying, 'We are all Democrats and we are coming together...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 10:16 AM

 
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Great Lakes News: 20 May 2004
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium.

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

EDITORIAL: More than another report, Great Lakes need action
----------------------------------------
As wonderful as it is to have the president notice the Great Lakes, it's
hard to get enthused about yet another task force report. Source: Detroit
Free Press (5/20)


Toronto to get $125M boost
----------------------------------------
Prime Minister Paul Martin is set to deliver a $125 million kick-start to
Toronto's stalled waterfront rejuvenation and a boost to the election hopes
of Toronto-area Liberals. Source: The Toronto Star (5/20)


Windy City may be Sinking City
----------------------------------------
Shifting land caused by the melting of Canadian glaciers causes Chicago to
sink at the rate of about a millimeter a year, a Northwestern University
study has found. Source: The Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette (5/20)


Groups try to get federal shoreline funds
----------------------------------------
Some of the North Shore's most prominent residents led the charge to keep
Illinois out of a federal coastline grant program in the 1970s they feared
would erode property rights, but area mayors and activists say the money is
now needed to protect beaches in the area. Source: Pioneer Press (5/20)


Erie County shoreline projects will get $45K
----------------------------------------
Two projects in Erie County are among seven that will receive a portion of
$256,500 in government grant money to help promote or enhance portions of
the Lake Erie shoreline, the state Department of Natural Resources said
yesterday. Source: The Toledo Blade (5/20)


Cleveland planners unveil vision for west lakefront
----------------------------------------
Edgewater Park would double in size and a manmade island north of Lake
Erie's western breakwall would be home to Cleveland's port under the latest
vision for connecting city neighborhoods with the lakefront. Source: The
Plain Dealer (5/20)


Toronto Mayor: Ferry is important
----------------------------------------
The boat that's been the talk of the town in Rochester for years is just
getting noticed on the other side of Lake Ontario. Source: R News (5/20)


New York kills cormorants on Lake Ontario
----------------------------------------
New York wildlife officials this week shot 20 birds and oiled 7,347 eggs to
kill the embryos in the more aggressive effort to control the state's flocks
of double-crested cormorants, a hungry predatory waterfowl blamed in some
areas for thinning fisheries favored by sportsmen. Source: Newsday (5/20)


Granholm on the road again for Michigan tourism
----------------------------------------
A kayak outing in Lake Superior, a visit to a new Holocaust Museum in
Farmington Hills and a train ride in Owosso are among scheduled highlights
of Gov. Jennifer Granholm's six-day tour next month to promote Michigan's
"hidden" tourist destinations. Source: Booth Newspapers (5/20)


Dumping of sewage second-largest ever
----------------------------------------
Milwaukee sewerage district officials on Wednesday said they had dumped more
than 1.5 billion gallons of raw sewage since last Thursday, making it the
second-worst dumping episode in the history of the deep tunnel system.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (5/19)

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html


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- posted by Daniel @ 7:01 PM

 
Democrats converge on Portland for convention

By FRANCIS X. QUINN

AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Democrats are readying for a three-day state convention that they hope will display diversity and demonstrate election year determination without developing into a full-scale donnybrook.

Little in the way of tangible prizes is at stake. But that doesn´t mean festivities, which begin Friday, don´t hold potential for fireworks at times.

Organizers are looking for a big turnout, based on...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 6:20 PM

 
Kucinich a crowd-pleaser at Portland college
He's the candidate who has no chance but does have an alternative view

By Christy Moorehouse
Special to CNN
Thursday, May 20, 2004 Posted: 2:10 PM EDT (1810 GMT)

Editor's Note: Campus Vibe provides student perspectives on the 2004 election from selected colleges across the United States. This week's contributor is Christy Moorehouse, assistant editor at The Bridge, the Portland Community College student newspaper. The views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of CNN, its affiliates or Portland Community College.

PORTLAND, Oregon (CNN) -- The audience cheered on Monday as Ohio Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich strode through the crowd on his mission to the microphone to address students at Portland Community College's Sylvania Campus.

"This is the biggest event we've had in this area," said student senator Alina Dumitrasc, as a few hundred students, staff and faculty gathered to hear the dogged presidential hopeful speak at the College Center building.

With less than 24 hours before the end of voting in the Oregon primaries, the opportunity to sway swing voters and secure a healthy turnout had wound down to the last minute.

Although Kucinich doesn't have the votes to get the Democratic nomination for president, he continues to campaign for the people's vote.

"Kucinich doesn't stand a chance of winning [the election]. It's more about a Democratic movement," said Jason Reed, a first year communications major at PCC.

The Sylvania Campus Associated Students of Portland Community College (ASPCC), which sponsored the event, placed unofficial ballot boxes near voter registration cards being peddled from the sidelines.

Dumitrasc, who helped organize the event through her student government post, said having Kucinich on campus...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 6:15 PM

 
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Great Lakes News: 19 May 2004
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium.

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Bush appoints EPA chief to lead Great Lakes cleanups
----------------------------------------
President Bush on Tuesday tapped EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt to lead a
federal task force to coordinate Great Lakes restoration programs. Source:
The Plain Dealer (5/19)


Bacteria prompts warning sign on Lake Superior
----------------------------------------
The season's first "No Water Contact" sign for Minnesota waters of Lake
Superior was posted Tuesday on Burlington Bay in Two Harbors. Source:
Duluth News Tribune (5/19)


Wisconsin nature trail is for the birders
----------------------------------------
Wisconsin is one of a growing number of states promoting tourism by creating
auto-tour routes linking birding hot spots. Source: Duluth News Tribune
(5/19)


Volunteers and boats will scour the Detroit River on Saturday
----------------------------------------
A flotilla of canoes, kayaks and outboard motor-powered aluminum boats will
launch from Trenton's Rotary Park on Saturday to remove debris from the
Detroit River. Source: Detroit Free Press (5/19)


Grass is greener in Northwest Indiana
----------------------------------------
Despite decades of industrial buildup and continued suburban growth,
Northwest Indiana has garnered a reputation for its commitment to nurturing
green spaces in developed areas. Source: The Northwest Indiana Times (5/19)


American Indian women walking to honor water
----------------------------------------
A group of American Indian mothers and grandmothers is walking along the
Great Lakes to raise awareness about the need to value and protect water
resources. Source: Traverse City Record-Eagle (5/19)


Illinois Coalition gets hydrogen fueling grant
----------------------------------------
The Illinois Coalition announced Tuesday it received a $54,000 grant toward
building a hydrogen fueling station at the Rockford airport. Source: The
Northwest Indiana Times (5/19)


Rising Lake Michigan water levels boost local businesses
----------------------------------------
More rainfall and a larger snow pack this year have helped Lake Michigan
water levels rise more than seven inches, which is welcome news to shippers
and other businesses. Source: WNDU-TV (5/18)


Ferry tale begins at new home
----------------------------------------
The Lake Express high-speed ferry glided into the Milwaukee harbor Tuesday,
and an honor guard of Milwaukee vessels sailed out to welcome the ferry to
its new home. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (5/18)


'Rain gardens' replace wetlands in Holland
----------------------------------------
On Monday, Holland area leaders looking to restore the health of Lake
Macatawa took steps to bring back a little of the old terrain in the name of
cleaner water. Source: The Grand Rapids Press (5/18)


Boaters reminded to help prevent the spread of exotic species
----------------------------------------
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking boaters to
keep up the good work in minimizing the spread of harmful exotic species
such as Eurasian watermilfoil and zebra mussels. Source: Morrison County
Record (5/17)

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html


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- posted by Daniel @ 5:50 PM

 
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Federation, Top Elected Officials Call for Illinois to Join Coastal Zone
Program
http://www.lakemichigan.org/news/press.asp
Source: Lake Michigan Federation (2004-05-17)


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Information Network (www.glin.net) and the Great Lakes Radio Consortium
(www.glrc.org), both based in Ann Arbor, Mich.

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- posted by Daniel @ 5:48 PM

 
Forum spotlights Department of Peace

By Josh Richman, STAFF WRITER

Organizers hope to attract hundreds of people to a forum tonight in San Francisco to work toward creation of a Cabinet-level U.S. Department of Peace.

Presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, first introduced a Peace Department bill in 2001, the culmination of years of work with peace activists. He re-introduced the bill in 2003, and it now has 47 co-sponsors, including six from the Bay Area.

But the event tonight marks a new phase of the effort -- the launch of the North American Peace Alliance, a nonprofit group that will coordinate a national grass-roots and lobbying campaign for the Peace Department.

The event includes a 6:30 p.m. reception and 7:30 p.m. program at the Unitarian Universalist Church of San Francisco, 1187 Franklin St. at Geary in San Francisco. It is open to the public, with no fee.

Scheduled speakers include...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 5:34 PM

 
Published May 19, 2004

U.S. Army calling up former soldiers


News-Leader Wire Services

Washington — The U.S. Army is scraping up soldiers for duty in Iraq wherever it can find them, and that includes places and people long considered off-limits.

The Army on Tuesday confirmed that it pulled the files of about 17,000 people in the Individual Ready Reserve, the nation's pool of former soldiers. The Army has been screening them for critically needed specialists and has called about 100 of them since January.

Under the current authorization from Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the Army could call as many as 6,500 back on active duty involuntarily.

"Yes, we are screening them and, yes, we are calling some of them up," an Army spokesman, Col. Joseph Curtin said.

The Army also is considering a plan to...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 5:31 PM

 
EERE Network News

A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
May 19, 2004
News and Events

* DOE, GM Launch a Fuel Efficiency, Emissions Contest for the Chevy Equinox
* Maryland Local Governments Buy a Large Amount of Wind Power
* State and Utility Clean Energy Programs Chalk Up Successes
* Popular PG&E Energy Efficiency Rebates Running Low on Funds
* EPA Awards Energy-Efficient Businesses and Congregations

Site News

* DOE Launches Science.gov 2.0, an Improved Portal to Science Information

Energy Connections

* EIA Expects Summer Gasoline Prices to Average $1.94


News and Events


DOE, GM Launch a Fuel Efficiency, Emissions Contest for the Chevy Equinox

DOE and General Motors Corporation (GM) announced a new competition last week that will challenge engineering students across North America to redesign a Chevrolet Equinox, increasing its fuel efficiency and reducing its emissions while maintaining the vehicle's safety and performance. Called "Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility," the three-year competition will pit teams of engineering students from 17 North American universities against each other in the redesign of Chevy's compact sport utility vehicle (SUV). DOE's Argonne National Laboratory will manage the Challenge X competition, and GM will supply each team with an Equinox SUV, $10,000 in seed money, technical mentoring, and additional production parts for the vehicle. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation will also contribute to the competition, as will a number of sponsoring corporations and organizations. See the DOE press release.


Maryland Local Governments Buy a Large Amount of Wind Power

A group of six county agencies in Montgomery County, Maryland, along with 11 local municipalities and nearby Prince George's County, have agreed to purchase five percent of their electricity from wind power. Montgomery County executives announced the wind power purchase last week, and claimed it as the largest U.S. purchase of wind energy by a local government, the largest retail purchase of wind power in Maryland, and the fifth largest retail purchase of wind power in the country. The group is buying more than 38 million kilowatt-hours of wind power per year for two years from Community Energy, Inc. (CEI), which generates the wind power at the Mountaineer Wind Energy Center in West Virginia. See the Montgomery County press release.

CEI, which markets power from most of the wind plants in New York and the mid-Atlantic, noted in late April that it is now selling more than 350 million kilowatt-hours per year. Since its founding in 1999, the company has sold more than two billion kilowatt-hours of wind power. But CEI isn't the only game in town: Constellation NewEnergy announced in early April that it is supplying more than 50 megawatts of power to government buildings in New York City, roughly one-quarter of which will come from renewable energy. See the press releases from CEI and Constellation NewEnergy.

Wind power is also selling well in the West, where Avista Corporation has agreed to buy the next ten years of power output from 35 megawatts of wind turbines at PPM Energy's Stateline Wind Energy Center, located near Walla Walla, Washington. Avista provides electric power to its customers in four western states. Meanwhile, students at Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins will have a new opportunity in fall: the chance to buy 100 percent wind energy for their dorm rooms. The university is offering the wind energy option at a cost of $17 per year. According to CSU, the average residence-hall student uses about 1,600 kilowatt-hours of electricity during the school year. See the press releases from Avista and CSU.


State and Utility Clean Energy Programs Chalk Up Successes

From the East Coast to the Pacific Northwest, states and utilities are helping to cut energy use while advancing renewable energy.

In New York, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) released a five-year report on its Clean Energy Initiative last month, noting that the initiative has saved more than 624,000 megawatt-hours of electricity while cutting Long Island's peak power demand by 110.5 megawatts. The initiative has helped to install 138 geothermal heating and cooling systems, more than 2.7 megawatts of solar power, and 40 fuel cell installations. See the LIPA press release.

Nearby, Pennsylania's Energy Harvest grant program is proving a bit too popular, as last year's $5-million program was greeted with 139 applications requesting a total of $45 million in funding. Another $5 million is available this year, but Governor Rendell hopes to boost funding to $80 million, spread over the next four years. Applications for this year's funds are due on July 23rd. See the Pennsylvania Energy Harvest announcement and the press release from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

In the nation's heartland, Wisconsin's Focus on Energy has helped install more than 70 solar, wind, and biomass energy systems that will generate more than 4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and nearly 27,000 therms of energy. The partnership has also helped nearly 3,000 Wisconsin businesses save a total of nearly $15 million in energy costs since July 2001. See the Focus on Energy press releases from March 4th and April 22nd.

And in the Pacific Northwest, DOE's Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) takes a different approach, offering a discount to the utilities that buy its power if they implement energy efficiency or renewable energy projects. As a result, the program has yielded an average energy savings of about 37.4 megawatts, and has resulted in nearly $14 million in investments in renewable energy projects over the past three years. See BPA's interim report on its Conservation and Renewables Discount Program (PDF 85 KB). Download Acrobat Reader.


Popular PG&E Energy Efficiency Rebates Running Low on Funds

Homeowners and apartment building managers in northern and central California are clearly enthusiastic about energy efficiency. In fact, they're so enthusiastic that Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is already running out of funds for many of this year's residential rebates for energy efficient products. PG&E has received "an overwhelming response" to its rebate program for multifamily property management (that is, apartments, townhouses, and the like), and is not accepting any more applications. The utility has also run out of rebate funds for energy-efficient dishwashers, room air conditioners, natural-gas-fueled furnaces, water heaters, dual-paned windows, and attic and wall insulation. According to the PG&E rebate Web site, funds for programmable thermostats are nearly gone, but your odds are better if you want to buy an energy-efficient clothes washer, central air-cooling system, whole-house fan, central heat pump, or a pool pump and motor. And last but not least, rebates are still available for one of the best buys when it comes to energy efficiency: lighting products that are Energy-Star qualified. See PG&E's "Rebates for Your Home."

California's other large utilities don't appear to be facing the same funding problems. Southern California Edison (SCE) is still accepting applications for multi-family housing rebates, and as of May 1st, the utility still has 75 percent of its funds for home energy efficiency rebates. San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E) also appears to be accepting applications for all of its rebate programs. See the SCE and SDG&E Web sites.


EPA Awards Energy-Efficient Businesses and Congregations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honored energy-efficient small businesses and congregations, as well as the leaders in its Combined Heat and Power Partnership, in ceremonies in late April and on May 13th.

Thirteen small businesses and congregations earned Energy Star awards in late April for their contributions to energy efficiency. Institutions and organizations that promote energy efficiency among small commercial facilities also earned awards. The businesses included an inn, a grocery, a building materials supplier, and a non-profit corporation. The energy efficiency upgrades generally included energy-efficient lighting and heating and cooling systems, as well as insulating and sealing air leaks. See the EPA press release (PDF 12 KB) and the Energy Star Web site's list of the winners. Download Acrobat Reader.

Last week, the EPA presented two awards and three certificates of recognition to companies that have installed combined heat and power systems at their facilities. BP Solvay Polyethylene North America won for a gas turbine system with heat recovery that operates at an estimated efficiency of 78 percent, and Calpine Corporation won for a combustion system with heat recovery that operates at 72 percent efficiency. See the EPA announcement and the full list of awardees on the EPA Combined Heat and Power Partnership Web site.


Site News

DOE Launches Science.gov 2.0, an Improved Portal to Science Information

Last week, DOE launched a new, improved version of Science.gov, the federal government's portal to information about science. The Web site is a collaboration of 12 major science agencies, and searches not only 1,700 Web sites, but also 30 large databases that are not accessible to popular search engines. Science.gov 2.0 makes these 30 large databases searchable with a single query, presenting the results in order of relevance. Hosted by DOE's Office of Scientific and Technical Information, Science.gov is made possible through a collaboration of the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, and Interior, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Government Printing Office, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the National Science Foundation, with support from the National Archives and Records Administration. Science.gov is a free resource, and no registration is required. See the DOE press release.


Energy Connections

EIA Expects Summer Gasoline Prices to Average $1.94

The outlook for summer gasoline prices worsened last week, as DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected the average U.S. price for a gallon of regular gasoline at about $1.94 this summer. That's 18 cents higher than the EIA projected a month ago, reflecting increased pressures on the oil market. The EIA expects average U.S. gasoline prices to peak at $2.03 in June. Spot prices for crude oil averaged about $36.70 per barrel in April, and the EIA expected them to average $36 to $37 per barrel for the rest of the year. See the May 11th edition of EIA's "Short-Term Energy Outlook."

Unfortunately, EIA's report is already looking a bit optimistic. According to Platts, June crude oil futures (the benchmark price for crude oil), hit $41.38 per barrel on May 14th. See the Platts oil price chart, and for the latest crude oil prices, see the New York Mercantile Exchange Web site.

This newsletter is funded by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and is also available on the EERE news page. You can subscribe to the EERE Network News using our simple online form.
- posted by Daniel @ 5:12 PM

 
Kucinich to visit Rapid City

RAPID CITY — Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich will visit Rapid City on Saturday and Sunday, May 22 and 23.

Kucinich will host a fund-raiser featuring a slate of bands at the Labor Temple at 922-1/2 E. St. Patrick St

The bands start at 8 p.m. Saturday, and a $5 contribution is requested.

The bands performing are...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 5:11 PM

 
ENN Environmental News Network
E-mail Edition 05/19/2004

Harnessing the power of stuff
Modern life is a communications paradox. We are in touch with each other like never before: cell phones, Internet, text messaging, email. In fact, we now have to make an effort not to be in touch with other people.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-19/s_23756.asp

Shanghai warns residents to avoid seafood due to massive red tide off coast
Shanghai residents should avoid seafood because of a massive concentration of toxic algae off China's eastern coast, state media said Tuesday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-19/s_24028.asp

California lawmakers back ban on force-fed foie gras
Force-feeding of ducks and geese to make foie gras, a delicacy to some and an outrage to others, is a step closer to being outlawed in California after the state senate's passage of a bill Tuesday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-19/s_24031.asp

Environmentalists target Canada's boreal forest
Environmentalists launched an international campaign Tuesday to limit logging in Canada's boreal forest, a northern wilderness stretching from the Atlantic Ocean into Alaska.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-19/s_24030.asp

Medicine from the sea
About seven miles off the marshy Louisiana coast, oil-rig platforms rise like skyscrapers from the heaving waters of the Gulf of Mexico's "oil patch."
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-19/s_23672.asp

Oslo wants more whaling to boost fish stocks
Norway's parliament called on Tuesday for a three-fold increase in whale hunting quotas in a move it said would protect stocks of cod and other fish eaten by the giant mammals.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-19/s_24029.asp

Cameroon arrests woman carrying 266 dead parrots
Cameroon has arrested a Nigerian woman who was found carrying more than 260 dead parrots and rare Bannerman Turaco feathers, a customs official said Tuesday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-19/s_24032.asp

Bush forms Cabinet-level task force to coordinate Great Lakes cleanup
President Bush on Tuesday named a 10-member Cabinet-level task force, chaired by Environmental Protection Agency chief Mike Leavitt, to coordinate Great Lakes cleanup efforts among states, federal agencies, and Canada.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-19/s_24027.asp

South Africans in a spin over shooting Himalayan goats
Animal welfare activists accused national parks chiefs Tuesday of slaughter over the culling of of Himalayan goats living on Cape Town's famous Table Mountain.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-19/s_24035.asp

New species of fish discovered in Seychelles
A new species of freshwater fish has been discovered in the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Seychelles, underlining the need for better protection for marine species, environment officials said this week.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-19/s_23973.asp

Greenpeace conspired to illegally board ship, says U.S. government
Greenpeace conspired to break the law when it sent activists aboard a freighter carrying illegally felled mahogany, prosecutors said Tuesday, as they dusted off a law not used since 1890 to bring the first U.S. criminal prosecution of an advocacy group.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-19/s_24034.asp



Environmental Marketplace Updates (Become a Member)

We'd like to encourage you to visit our Environmental Marketplace where you'll learn about some amazing environmentally-focused businesses. A few examples:

Winslow Management Company, with an approach to investing that is based on the conviction that environmental responsibility enhances corporate profitability and investment performance. Learn more about Winslow Management Company

Bullfrog Films, the oldest and largest publisher of videos and films about the environment in the United States, bringing together programs that point the way to a new paradigm for living happily, healthily, and sustainably. Learn more about Bullfrog Films

UC Press, the publishing arm of the University of California, and Sierra Club Books, publishing arm of the Sierra Club. Learn more about UC Press and Sierra Club Books

ShoreBank Pacific, creating strong companies, vibrant communities and a healthy environment. Learn more about ShoreBank Pacific





Today's Press Releases (Become an Affiliate)
Direct from non-profit environmental and educational organizations.

Blue Goose Alliance:
Blue Goose Alliance Joins Fight Against Development Affecting National Wildlife Refuge

WWF-US Communications:
Landmark Toxics Treaty Becomes International Law

Earthwatch Institute:
Why Wolves Hunt in Packs: Satiety in Numbers

Rainforest Action Network:
RAN Moves Bank of America To Set New Industry Best Practices for Climate Change and Forest Policies

Center for Biological Diversity:
Legal Accord To Speed Endangered Species Act Listing For 73 Of The World's Rarest Bird Species

International Fund for Animal Welfare:
Cull No Answer to Control Kruger Elephants

Arizona Wilderness Coalition:
Rep. Renzi Proposes $1.2 Million Giveaway to Grand Canyon Motor Outfitters

Mangrove Action Project:
Late Friday News #137

Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary:
IPLS Scientist Helps Reintroduce Golden Lion Tamarins in Brazil

- posted by Daniel @ 4:50 PM

 
Our Planet Weekly
From E, the environmental magazine:

Tuesday, May 18th, 2004

THIS WEEK

British Shoreline Clogged with Microscopic Plastic Litter
Plastic-based litter from human beings is inundating the world's oceans and polluting shorelines down to the microscopic level, according to British scientists who recently completed a multi-year study on the problem in and around Great Britain.
Read more!

Is "Global Dimming" Under Way?
Scientists call it "global dimming," a little-known trend that may be making the world darker than it used to be.
Read more!

Researchers Dismayed by Unhealthy Levels of Pesticides in Americans
According to a newly released report by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN), many U.S. residents carry unhealthy levels of pesticides in their bodies, with children, women and Mexican-Americans disproportionately exposed to the toxic chemicals.
Read more!

Consumers Choose Smaller SUVs as Gas Prices Skyrocket
Sales of full-size sport-utility vehicles tumbled last month, and sales of some smaller, more fuel-efficient SUVs boomed in what could be a sign that higher fuel prices are hurting automakers' high-profit models. One of the largest sales drops was experienced by GM's Hummer, which is now sold with rebates.
Read more!

Reporting by Roddy Scheer


COMMENTARY

The Big Cooldown
My town celebrated Earth Day about a month late, because the committee was waiting for a good date to use one of the local schools. Better late than never, I say. There were displays from solar groups, feel-good literature from the utility companies, and a surprisingly strong showing from the fuel-cell people, including a display from Avalence (launched by one of the founders of E), makers of a user-friendly hydrogen filler. There were also things for kids to do, and a pack of eco-conscious costumed figures. By Jim Motavalli
Read more!


GREEN LIVING

Green, But Clean
Breaking the Lawn-Care Pesticide Cycle
Elise Craig lives in a garden apartment in Portland, Oregon, where children roll in the grass and run barefoot across lawns in the summer light. A year ago, she realized that whenever the landlord spread lawn-care chemicals on the grass, her six-year-old son, Michael, lost bowel and bladder control for weeks afterward. By Jane M. Bradley
Read more!


EARTH TALK

Week of 5/16/2004
Chemicals in Drugs
Transit Control in Singapore
Read more!


CURRENTS

Through the Smoke
China Embraces Sustainability-One City at a Time
When China announced last November that it would impose strict new fuel-economy standards for small cars and minivans, it was only one sign that the world’s most populated country is headed down a more sustainable path-while the U.S. moves in the other direction. By Linda Baker
Read more!


ON OUR WEBSITE

Paperless Version of E

E Magazine is currently determining our readership’s interest in a "paperless version" of E
Read more!
- posted by Daniel @ 4:34 PM

 
W I R E D N E W S Top Stories - 09:15AM 18.May.04.PDT
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Big Flap Over Future Flight (Technology 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/technology/0,1282,63361,00.html/wn_ascii

In the hunt for a more versatile aircraft, researchers are mimicking
the beasts that have been flying for years -- birds. By Lakshmi
Sandhana.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

U.N. Says OK to GM Crops (Technology 8:59 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/technology/0,1282,63499,00.html/wn_ascii

The U.N. food agency says it sees no adverse effects from genetically
modified crops. Also: Israeli scientists mate vultures with broken
wings.... Mars rover Opportunity looks for more evidence of water....
and more.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Online Grocery Shopping, Take Two (Business Monday)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/business/0,1367,63491,00.html/wn_ascii

Miss the good old days when you could shop for groceries from the
comfort of your ergonomically correct computer chair? Those days may be
returning, as several grocers cautiously dip their toes into online
ordering.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Don't Flush Brains Down the Drain (Technology Monday)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/technology/0,1282,63494,00.html/wn_ascii

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a plan for cattle brains and
other remains that may carry deadly mad cow disease. It wants to turn
them into a bio-based source of energy.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- posted by Daniel @ 6:08 PM

 
FCNL: PETITION CALLS FOR A NEW COLOMBIA POLICY (5/18/04)

The following action items from the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) focus on federal policy issues currently before Congress or the Administration.

(To learn more about the FCNL INFO LINE, please see the end of this message.)

The Latin America Working Group (LAWG), in which FCNL participates, has created an online petition for a new Colombia policy. The petition calls for a departure from the militarized policy that the U.S. currently employs. Instead, it urges a policy focused on addressing the lack of adequate drug treatment programs in the U.S. and the lack of economic opportunity for poor farmers in Colombia.

The petition will be delivered to the presidential candidates and members of Congress just before the Colombia aid debate this year.

View the petition and consider adding your signature: (https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=19319)


BACKGROUND:
Colombia is caught in a complex web of violence resulting in the most severe humanitarian crisis in the hemisphere. Colombia's insurgency is rooted in decades of extreme inequality and political exclusion. All parties to the conflict have become more violent and intransigent over time. Political violence forces more than 300,000 people to flee their homes each year.

Two leftist guerrilla groups, the FARC and the ELN, are responsible for kidnappings for profit, killings of civilians by assassination, and indiscriminate use of weapons such as gas cylinder bombs. Right-wing paramilitary groups are responsible for massive human rights violations in Colombia, including massacres and assassinations. Rural community leaders and trade unionists are especially at risk.

The U.S. has provided massive amounts of military and security assistance to Colombia and the Andean region in an effort to reduce the supply of illegal drugs that arrive in the U.S. Between 1999 and 2002, the United States gave Colombia $2.04 billion, of which 83% has gone to Colombia's military and police. However, this has made little, if any, impact on the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. Meanwhile, the failed policy has serious human cost to Colombians who suffer under these policies.

Human rights observers have documented strong links between the Colombia military and security forces and the right-wing paramilitary groups. Trained Colombian military personnel are actively recruited by the paramilitaries, and military and security forces have often looked the other way, allowing paramilitary groups to commit atrocities with impunity. The U.S.-sponsored cocaine fumigation campaign has left people ill, food and alternative cash crops wilted, drinking water supplies contaminated, and aquatic life destroyed. Millions have been driven from their homes by the violence, fumigation campaign, and resulting poverty.

More weapons and military training are not what the people of Colombia and the Andean region need today. A more humane and more effectively policy would focus on U.S. assistance to the region for sustainable, community-based, economic development and for developing effective democratic and civil society institutions. Further, serious attempts to address the problem of domestic drug abuse should focus on reducing demand in the U.S. through expanded prevention and treatment programs and through programs that increase economic and educational opportunities in U.S. communities beset by drug addiction and drug-related violence and crimes.
______________________________________________________________________________
SUBSCRIBE to FCNL's listserves (https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=19320)

To order "WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER" bumper stickers free of charge
*Go to the Bumper Sticker web order form: (https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=19323) or
* Phone: Call 800-630-1330, ext. 142. Leave a message with mailing information and number of stickers requested.

________________________________________
The FCNL INFOLINE provides announcements and information from the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). These messages (1) focus on legislative work, but do not have a legislative action component, (2) provide updates on FCNL's work, and/or (3) inform you about resources available from FCNL. These messages are intended as a supplement to the Legislative Action Message and other FCNL materials. For more information please contact

Friends Committee on National Legislation
Mail: 245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
Email: fcnl@fcnl.org
Phone: (202) 547-6000
Fax: (202) 547-6019
Toll Free: (800) 630-1330
Web: (https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=19328)
Congressional Information: (https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=19329)
__________________________________________________
We seek a world free of war and the threat of war
We seek a society with equity and justice for all
We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled
We seek an earth restored
- posted by Daniel @ 5:56 PM

 
Ask John Kerry to GO BIG!

From MoveOn.org:

As George Bush's poll numbers drop, John Kerry is facing an important choice -- perhaps the most important choice he'll make in his campaign. He has to decide whether, as some consultants will urge, he should be cautious, or whether he should present a bold agenda for change and rally all Americans around a common vision for our future.

Throughout his life, John Kerry has made a practice of standing up for bold initiatives to provide health care, protect the environment, and guarantee truth-telling in government. Together, we need to let him know that we want him to be his best, boldest self -- to go big, ask more from us, and power his campaign on the politics of hope and progress.

We're joining forces in this effort with commentator Arianna Huffington and former Howard Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi. Together, we'll let him know in an unforgettable way that we support him in running a visionary campaign. To sign on to the petition, go to:

http://www.moveonpac.org/gobig/?id=2845-3170202-e3AmIxZZpts.DPeMxA7_BA

Here's the full text of the letter we'll send on with your signature:

Dear Senator Kerry,

We all want to send George Bush home to Crawford, Texas, in November. He seems convinced that the way to win is by playing on our fears. You can prove that the answer lies in appealing to the "better angels of our nature."

Let Bush own September 11th and the politics of fear. You should own September 12th -- the spirit of generosity and community that poured forth in the aftermath of the attacks -- and the politics of hope.

Offer voters a bold moral vision of what America can be. A vision that is bigger than the things that divide us. A vision that brings hope and soul back to our politics and appeals to more than voters' narrow self-interests. A vision that makes America once again a respected force for good in the world.

Don't be tempted to adopt the familiar -- and failed -- Republican-lite swing voter strategy. You can reach out to and inspire the fifty percent of eligible voters who have given up on voting. If you do, you will win not in a toss-up but a landslide.

Senator Kerry, I'm ready to vote my hopes and not my fears. So please: Go Big, Ask More!

It's clear that Kerry has it in him to be a visionary candidate. In a speech to the California Democratic State Convention, he referred to Robert Kennedy's famous quotation: "Some men dream things that are and ask why. I dream things that never were and ask why not?" Then Kerry said:

That is the question at the heart of our campaign. That is our cause.

Why not have an economy where equal opportunity is a fact? Where people who work hard and do the right thing can not only make ends meet but can actually reach higher and hope for more?

Why not give every working American access to high-quality, affordable health care?

Why not have public schools where children set out on a lifetime of learning and possibility? Where "no child left behind" is a promise kept, not broken and forgotten.

Why not preserve our environment so our great grandchildren can breathe clean air, drink clean water, and know that they too live in a land that can be called "America the beautiful." (http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2003_0314.html)

John Kerry needs to hear from us -- that we want him to offer a bold vision for our country's future and play to our hopes rather than our fears. You can join the "Go Big" petition by going to:

http://www.moveonpac.org/gobig/?id=2845-3170202-e3AmIxZZpts.DPeMxA7_BA

Sincerely,

Eli Pariser
MoveOn PAC
May 17th, 2004

PAID FOR BY MOVEON PAC, WWW.MOVEONPAC.ORG
This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
- posted by Daniel @ 5:44 PM

 
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Support GLIN Daily News: http://www.glin.net/news/sponsor/
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Great Lakes News: 18 May 2004
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium.

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Nuclear agency blasted for Davis-Besse work
----------------------------------------
In a scathingly critical report, the General Accounting Office has concluded
that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission miscalculated the risk to the public
of letting the Davis-Besse nuclear reactor continue to run with suspected
leaks. Source: The Plain Dealer (5/18)


Pay dirt on a slag field
----------------------------------------
Mud dredged from the bottom of the Illinois River is being used by the
Chicago Park District to build a 17-acre park on a slag field at a former
U.S. Steel site. Source: The Northwest Indiana Times (5/18)


Ship wrecked in 1798 recovered from Lake Huron beach
----------------------------------------
Archeologists began scraping away layers of hard-packed sand on a windy
Ontario beach Monday to unearth what is believed to be the oldest shipwreck
ever found on the Great Lakes. Source: The Montreal Gazette (5/18)


Budget cuts lead to cuts of ports and harbor patrol boats
----------------------------------------
The Cleveland Police won't be patrolling the city's inner harbor or the
Cuyahoga River this summer, as budget cuts have forced the city to keep its
port and harbor patrol boats onshore. Source: WKYC-TV Cleveland (5/17)


Niagara River Greenway Commission on Pataki's agenda
----------------------------------------
New York Gov. George Pataki is following through on a proposal for a a
"greenway" of interconnected parks and trails along the Niagara River
linking Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Source: Buffalo Business First (5/17)


Taking the shore route along Lake Michigan
----------------------------------------
Lake Michigan isn't the biggest lake, or the deepest. Its shores aren't the
most dramatic. But a trip all the way around it yields a wide range of
attractions. Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer (5/16)


EDITORIAL: What you do on your lawn and driveway has important effects on
lakes, rivers
----------------------------------------
The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments wants citizens to understand
that what happens in their yards and driveways affects the nearest river or
lake, and ultimately the nearest Great Lake. Source: Detroit Free Press
(5/16)


Ontario institutes training in wake of Walkerton
----------------------------------------
Four years after a tainted water supply led to seven deaths in Walkerton,
Ontario, the provincial government has announced new training requirements
for water system operators that it says are the most stringent in North
America. Source: The Globe and Mail (5/16)


Whistle-stop proud
----------------------------------------
With the arrival of a high-speed ferry on Lake Michigan this spring, the
51-year-old S.S. Badger and its home port of Ludington, Mich., are sailing
into an uncertain future. Source: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (5/16)

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html


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Information Network (www.glin.net) and the Great Lakes Radio
Consortium (www.glrc.org), both based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
TO SUBSCRIBE and receive this Great Lakes news compendium daily, see
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- posted by Daniel @ 5:31 PM

 
The Great Lakes Directory (http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org) is a comprehensive online resource highlighting environmental issues around the Great Lakes basin. The Directory contains daily environmental articles, a network of over 1,000 environmental groups, funding resources, free environmental software, nonprofit management resources, and a massive library of online Great Lakes environmental information.

Here are your weekly Great Lakes environmental jobs, events and news headlines from the Great Lakes Directory. More headlines, action alerts, resources, grants, jobs, and free activist software at http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org.



THIS WEEK’S GREAT LAKES HEADLINES:

05/17 - Two inland lakes have unique strains of lake trout
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/wi/051704__great_lakes.htm

05/17 - UW Sea Grant Institute funds activities of UWGB professors
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/wi/051704_great_lakes.htm

05/17 - Maumee dredgings may be put to good use proposal could ease EPA-Corps conflict
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/oh/051704_great_lakes.htm

05/13 - Scientists study impact of state shoreline law
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/051304__great_lakes.htm

05/13 - Pollution rules to have big impact on Northland industries
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mn/051304__great_lakes.htm

05/13 - Corps of Engineers vs. carp: The fight for the Great Lakes
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/051304_great_lakes.htm

05/13 - New Bill Would Help Clean Up Lead-in-Drinking-Water Problem, Says NRDC
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mn/051304_great_lakes.htm

05/12 - Dumping of Aquarium Fish Causing Trouble in Duluth
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mn/051204___great_lakes.htm

05/12 - Super-un-funded
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mn/051204__great_lakes.htm

05/12 - Satellite data confirms climate change
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mn/051204_great_lakes.htm



GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL JOBS:
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/jobs.htm

GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS:
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/events.htm

This e-mail was sent to you from the Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education (EAGLE):
http://www.eagle-ecosource.org

To subscribe and receive Great Lakes environmental news, action alerts, jobs and events in your e-mail once a week:
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org

-----------------------------------------------
Laura Novitzki
Great Lakes Directory / EAGLE
394 Lake Avenue South, Suite #222
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone/Fax: (218) 726-1828
laura@eagle-ecosource.org
- posted by Daniel @ 5:26 PM

 
From GRACE:

Vote for The Meatrix!

The Meatrix has been accepted in the Annecy 2004 Film Festival in the "Short films for the internet category". Annecy is the top animation festival in the world, so this is a great honor for the creators of The Meatrix, and is a great opportunity to educate even more people about the issues with factory farming.

You can view all the nominees' movies at http://www.annecy.org/home/index.php?Page_ID=468.

Voting is online, so please go and cast your vote for The Meatrix, and help us spread the word about factory farming. (You have to scroll down almost to the bottom of the page.) Click on "pour voter, cliquez >>ici" to vote.

Voting ends June 11th.

For those not familiar with Annecy, it's an international film festival held every year in France with 5500 attendees, 350 journalists, over 1400 films from 50 countries with more than 260 films in the official selection. This festival is dedicated solely to animation.

Please feel free to pass this on to friends.

The Meatrix continues its unprecedented success all over the world - we'll be sending you an update shortly, to let you know how the film is impacting people globally and to share our plans with the movie. We also have some exciting new projects happening at GRACE, which we are looking forward to sharing with you.

Thanks for your support!

- The Meatrix team


==============================================
The Meatrix: http://www.themeatrix.com/
- posted by Daniel @ 5:22 PM

 
Does election fallout bode ill for India tech?
Last modified: May 18, 2004, 8:35 AM PDT
By Ina Fried and Dinesh C. Sharma
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

update A change of governments in India rattled financial markets there, but analysts said it will do little to stem the tide of technology jobs being outsourced to the populous nation.

"The trend toward offshoring in (information technology) is so powerful and has such momentum that I don't think there is going to be any immediate impact," said Marc Hebert, executive vice president at Sierra Atlantic, a company that helps large businesses manage enterprise applications from software makers such as PeopleSoft and SAP.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 5:19 PM

 
Kucinich makes pitch in Oregon
The candidate says he's still in the race to give voters a choice and push Democrats
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
JAMES MAYER

As presidential candidate John Kerry swooped into Portland on Monday for two days of campaigning in Oregon's primary, Dennis Kucinich was deep into his 30th day.

"What I have found in Oregon is the people really appreciate that I have taken the time to campaign throughout this state, to hear what they have to say," Kucinich said as he squeezed into a van ferrying him between a small gathering of senior citizens at Westmoreland's Union Manor and a student-packed auditorium at Milwaukie High School.

"People want the Democratic Party to take a stand; they don't want it reduced to mush," the four-term congressman from Ohio said, repeating his central message.

If Kucinich felt overshadowed by the Massachusetts senator's major league appearance in Portland, complete with motorcade and media pack, he didn't show it as he energetically maintained his pattern of street-level retail politics, making six stops in the Portland area.

He said he sent Kerry a note suggesting a joint appearance. "But I haven't heard back."

Kerry has...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 5:15 PM

 
Article Last Updated: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 3:31:31 AM PST

Department of peace is urged

Lawmaker reintroduces bill that now has 47 sponsors for creation of cabinet-level organization

By Josh Richman, STAFF WRITER

Organizers hope to attract hundreds of people to a forum Wednesday night in San Francisco to work toward creation of a cabinet-level U.S. Department of Peace.

Democratic presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich,D-Ohio, first introduced a Peace Department bill in 2001, the culmination of years of work with peace activists. He re-introduced the bill in 2003, and it now has 47 co-sponsors, including six from the greater Bay Area.

But Wednesday's event marks a new phase of the effort -- the launch of the North American Peace Alliance (NAPA), a nonprofit group that will coordinate a national grassroots and lobbying campaign for the Peace Department.

"We really think right now, given the state of affairs in the world ... it's as important a time as ever to be talking about peace in a positive, proactive way," said organizer Mike Robbins. "It's not an anti-war movement, it's really a pro-peace movement."

The event includes a 6:30 p.m. reception and 7:30 p.m. program Wednesday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of San Francisco, 1187 Franklin St. at Geary in San Francisco. It's open to the public, with no fee. Scheduled speakers include Professor Michael Nagler, founder of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley, as well as authors John Robbins and Jean Shinoda Bolen.

The idea for a federal Department of Peace has East Bay roots -- then-Rep. Ron Dellums, D-Oakland, sought some peaceful counterpart to the Defense Department during the Vietnam era.

But Kucinich's bill envisions a more comprehensive agency. Domestically, it would be charged with developing new policies on issues such as child abuse, domestic violence, mistreatment of the elderly and cultural and racial acts of violence. Internationally, it would research and analyze foreign policy and make recommendations to the president on how to address and eradicate war's basic causes while securing human rights.

Among the bill's co-sponsors are...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 4:56 PM

 
Nuclear agency blasted for Davis-Besse work
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
John Funk and John Mangels
Plain Dealer Reporters

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's refusal to fix the deep oversight flaws that caused it to miss a rust hole in the Davis-Besse nuclear reactor means there may be major incidents at other plants, congressional investigators say.

In a scathingly critical report to be released today, the General Accounting Office concludes that the NRC in November 2001 miscalculated the risk to the public of letting Davis-Besse continue to run with suspected reactor leaks. The pineapple-sized rust hole was found three months later.

"We do not yet have adequate assurances from NRC that many of the factors that contributed to the incident at Davis-Besse will be fully addressed," the authors of the 18-month probe write.

The GAO is Congress' investigative branch. Three lawmakers sought the review.

Those lawmakers were U.S. Sen. George Voinovich and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Cleveland and Rep. Steven LaTourette of Concord Township.

Until now, most members of Congress have ignored the Davis-Besse debacle, but the GAO study sets up a potential confrontation Thursday when...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 4:54 PM

 
From the 9-11 Visibility Project (http://www.septembereleventh.org):

MUST-READ BOOK! Author and theologian David Ray Griffin's newest book, The New Pearl Harbor, details evidence for US Government complicity in 9/11. We are currently fundraising to provide free copies to the media and 9/11 family member who request one. Please consider a donation towards this effort. Special thanks to Gabriel Day in California for donating the first 50 books!
• WATCH THE INN WORLD REPORT VIDEO WITH DR. GRIFFIN
• LISTEN TO THE FLASHPOINTS INTERVIEW WITH DR. GRIFFIN; PART II
• READ HOWARD ZINN'S LETTER ENDORSING THE BOOK
- posted by Daniel @ 4:47 PM

 
Report: NRC shouldn't have let Davis-Besse run with reactor leaks

OAK HARBOR, Ohio The Nuclear Regulatory Commission miscalculated the risk to the public of letting the Davis-Besse nuclear power plant continue to run with suspected reactor leaks, according to a report obtained by The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.
The General Accounting Office report that was to be released Tuesday also says the commission's refusal to fix the oversight flaws that caused the NRC to miss a rust hole in the plant's nuclear reactor means there may be major incidents at other plants.

Davis-Besse, located along Lake Erie about 30 miles east of Toledo, started producing electricity again in March after it was shut down for more than two years. It was closed for routine maintenance in February 2002, and inspectors a month later found corrosion on the reactor vessel, where leaking boric acid had eaten almost through a 6-inch-thick steel cap.

The damage led to a review of 68 similar plants nationwide.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio sought the review of the Davis-Besse situation, along with U.S. Sen. George Voinovich and Rep. Steven LaTourette, both R-Ohio.

Kucinich tried to persuade the NRC to pull Davis-Besse's operating license last year and opposed restarting the plant in March. He said the latest report must make the commission, the nuclear industry and Congress realize that changes are necessary.

The GAO report says that the handling of Davis-Besse indicates problems with the way the NRC polices the nation's 103 nuclear plants.

"We do not yet have adequate...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 4:42 PM

 
ENN Environmental News Network
E-mail Edition 05/18/2004

EarthTalk: Are hybrid buses really helping to reduce air pollution?
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), 20 percent of U.S. air pollution comes from diesel buses — and many of them are concentrated in cities.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-18/s_23658.asp

Set for ban, DDT lingers in battle against malaria
Few poisons have ridden such a roller coaster through environmental history as DDT.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-18/s_23972.asp

Japan says it won't meet Kyoto targets reducing greenhouse gases without policy changes
Japan, a staunch advocate of the Kyoto protocol on global warming, may not meet its targets for cutting pollution unless it takes drastic action.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-18/s_23982.asp

Russia wants faster aid for "rotting" nuclear subs
Russia faces grave environmental and terrorist threats unless donors accelerate a slow trickle of international aid for dismantling its rusting nuclear submarines, a senior official said.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-18/s_23977.asp

Suriname Indians urgently need land rights
Indians and tribal peoples in Suriname could face a social and environmental disaster in the near future if the country does not grant them proper land rights, a Surinamese Indian group said Monday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-18/s_23969.asp

U.S. cattle brains may be turned into biofuels, says USDA
Cattle brains and other remains that may carry the deadly mad cow disease would be turned into biofuels under a plan announced Monday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-18/s_23974.asp

Bhopal survivors press U.S. company for disclosure
On the night of Dec. 3, 1984, Bhopal housewife Champa Devi Shukla woke to a frantic pounding at the door. When she opened it, her lungs seemed to catch on fire. Foul fumes swept into her home.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-18/s_23971.asp

Bald eagle will be off threatened list this year, says Bush official
The American bald eagle — the national symbol whose decline helped spur the Endangered Species Act and a ban on the pesticide DDT — will be off the threatened species list this year, said a top Bush administration official.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-18/s_23981.asp

Russia's top scientists tell Putin to kill Kyoto
The Kyoto Protocol to limit greenhouse gases has no scientific basis and puts the Russian economy at risk, Russia's leading scientists said in official advice to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-18/s_23975.asp

Arctic temperatures are warming rapidly, says polar explorer
Summer temperatures in the Arctic have risen at an incredible rate over the past three years, and large patches of what should be ice are now open water, a British polar explorer said Monday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-18/s_23970.asp

U.N. food agency supports genetically modified crops despite lingering public opposition
Genetically modified crops are helping poor farmers and have posed no adverse health or environmental effects so far, the U.N. food agency said Monday in a report on how biotechnology can help feed the world's hungry.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-18/s_23978.asp



Environmental Marketplace Updates (Become a Member)

We'd like to encourage you to visit our Environmental Marketplace where you'll learn about some amazing environmentally-focused businesses. A few examples:

Winslow Management Company, with an approach to investing that is based on the conviction that environmental responsibility enhances corporate profitability and investment performance. Learn more about Winslow Management Company

Bullfrog Films, the oldest and largest publisher of videos and films about the environment in the United States, bringing together programs that point the way to a new paradigm for living happily, healthily, and sustainably. Learn more about Bullfrog Films

UC Press, the publishing arm of the University of California, and Sierra Club Books, publishing arm of the Sierra Club. Learn more about UC Press and Sierra Club Books

ShoreBank Pacific, creating strong companies, vibrant communities and a healthy environment. Learn more about ShoreBank Pacific





Today's Press Releases (Become an Affiliate)
Direct from non-profit environmental and educational organizations.

WWF-US Communications:
Landmark Toxics Treaty Becomes International Law

Blue Goose Alliance:
Blue Goose Alliance Joins Fight Against Development Affecting National Wildlife Refuge

Rainforest Action Network:
RAN Moves Bank of America To Set New Industry Best Practices for Climate Change and Forest Policies

Center for Biological Diversity:
Legal Accord To Speed Endangered Species Act Listing For 73 Of The World's Rarest Bird Species

Earthwatch Institute:
Why Wolves Hunt in Packs: Satiety in Numbers
- posted by Daniel @ 9:46 AM

 
May 17, 2004

Kucinich presses on in campaign to sway party

By Rick Lyman
The New York Times

PORTLAND - Before Americans get too engrossed in a general election contest between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, would like to remind them of something: He's still out here, working hard every day, slogging from town to town, the second-to-last person still standing in the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination.

``Math is not my major, but I can count,'' the Ohio congressman said as his car wound along the dripping, piney woods of the central Oregon Coast, a glowering sky flecking the windshield with pin-sized raindrops. ``I understand that Kerry has enough delegates to be nominated. I can count, but I can also figure.''

And this is how Dennis Kucinich - former boy-mayor of Cleveland whose half-forgotten, dead-but-still-twitching presidential campaign is now targeting Tuesday's Oregon primary - figures it: (Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 9:45 AM

 
Kerry visit spotlights state primary

05/18/2004

By CHARLES E. BEGGS / Associated Press

A visit by presumed Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and spirited Republican races for nominations to two Democrat-held congressional seats put some zip into Tuesday's mostly low-key primary election.

Kerry's visit was his first campaign trip to Oregon, one of about dozen presidential toss-up states in recent polls. He appeared with former rival Howard Dean at a Monday night rally in Portland. He also had a planned appearance for Tuesday.

A poll taken May 6-8 and May 10 for the Portland Tribune and KOIN TV showed Kerry favored by 50 percent of those surveyed to 46 percent for President Bush. Putting independent Ralph Nader into the mix dropped Kerry's support to 47 percent to 45 percent for Bush and 3 percent for Nader.

The telephone survey by Research 2000 of Rockville, Md., of 603 likely voters had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Democrat Al Gore won Oregon in a 6,700-vote squeaker in 2000.

With no measures on the statewide ballot and little in the way of highly charged statewide races in the mail-in election, voter participation was running relatively low.

Ballots had been received from just 28 percent of registered voters through the weekend, the secretary of state's office said Monday. That was about the same pace of voting as in the 2002 primary, when a total of 46 percent of voters cast ballots.

A wild card in Tuesday's primary is Ohio U.S. Rep.Dennis Kucinich.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 9:44 AM

 
W I R E D N E W S Top Stories - 09:15AM 17.May.04.PDT
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Getting Naked for Big Brother (Business 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/business/0,1367,63450,00.html/wn_ascii

People are willing to strip for Uncle Sam and accept surveillance
technologies to protect them from terrorists, though the privacy
invasions won't make them any safer. Kim Zetter interviews the author
of The Naked Crowd.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hy-Wire Driving Is a Gas (Autopia 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/autotech/0,2554,63467,00.html/wn_ascii

Taking a ride in a hydrogen-powered car of the future can be a bit
disconcerting, unless you like driving with no steering wheel or floor
pedals. A product review by Kari Lynn Dean.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

UK Scientist Fears Genetic Bias (Med-Tech Center Saturday)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,63483,00.html/wn_ascii

What if insurance companies and employers use genetic tests to
discriminate against people with an increased risk for certain
diseases? A Nobel laureate wants laws in place to protect people.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Did Rumsfeld OK Prison Tactics? (Politics Saturday)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/politics/0,1283,63485,00.html/wn_ascii

New Yorker reporter Seymour Hersh writes that Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld authorized expanding a secret interrogation program employing
abuse and humiliation of prisoners from Afghanistan to Iraqi prisons.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- posted by Daniel @ 9:37 AM

 
A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
May 12, 2004
News and Events

* USDA Offers $22.8 million for Energy Efficiency and Renewables
* Massachusetts to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
* Colorado Utility Plans to Add 500 Megawatts of Renewables
* Nevada Adopts Solar Energy Incentives, Awards First to Washoe Tribe
* Geothermal Power Projects Under Development in Nevada and Idaho
* New System Generates 4.5 Megawatts from Gas Turbine Exhaust

Site News

* Distributed Energy Forum

Energy Connections

* Despite a Rough Spring, California Expects No Power Problems this Summer

News and Events

USDA Offers $22.8 million for Energy Efficiency and Renewables

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that it is offering $22.8 million in grants to support energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy installations at farms, ranches, and rural small businesses. The funds may be used to pay up to 25 percent of the project costs. Eligible renewable energy projects include those that derive energy from a wind, solar, biomass, or geothermal energy sources, as well as projects that use any of these energy sources to generate hydrogen for use as a fuel. See the USDA press release.

The USDA's Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements program was created as part of the 2002 Farm Bill. In 2003, the program awarded $21.7 million to 114 applicants from 24 states, helping them to make energy efficiency improvements and develop or improve wind and solar power systems and biomass energy systems, such as anaerobic digesters and ethanol production plants. For the formal "Notice of Funds Availability" for this year's funds, as well as additional information about the program, see the program Web site.

Massachusetts to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney unveiled a comprehensive Climate Protection Plan for the state last week, committing the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions through measures such as energy efficiency and renewable energy. The state has pledged to cut its energy use enough to cut greenhouse gas emissions at state facilities by 25 percent by 2012, and will purchase only fuel-efficient vehicles and energy-efficient office equipment for its facilities. In addition, Massachusetts will improve its efficiency standards, encourage the construction of "green" buildings, encourage the development of renewable energy, and implement California's Low Emission Vehicle program to reduce emissions from vehicles in the state.

The state aims to form partnerships with public and private entities in Massachusetts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2010, with an additional 10 percent reduction by 2020. To allow flexibility in meeting those goals, the state plans to develop a market for earning and trading greenhouse gas emissions credits within the state. See the governor's announcement or go directly to the full Climate Protection Plan (PDF 852 KB). Download Acrobat Reader.


Colorado Utility Plans to Add 500 Megawatts of Renewables
Xcel Energy filed its least-cost resource plan with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in late April, and the plan includes up to 500 megawatts of renewable energy capacity, predominantly from wind power. The utility also plans an all-source bid process (that is, requesting bids from all types of power sources) that could yield more renewable energy projects. Altogether, Xcel Energy plans to acquire 3,600 megawatts of new generating capacity in Colorado by 2013, much of which will consist of power plants fueled with coal or natural gas. But the utility plans to pursue its renewable energy plans first, and has asked the CPUC for approval to request proposals for 500 megawatts of renewable energy in July 2004. See the Xcel Energy press release.

Xcel Energy's request for proposals for renewable energy should do well, if the results from a similar request by PacifiCorp are any indication. PacifiCorp, which serves customers in six western states, recently requested proposals for 1,100 megawatts of renewable energy and received 42 bids for 54 projects totaling 5,600 megawatts. Wind power comprised 85 percent of the proposed capacity, and geothermal and hydropower split the remainder. See the PacifiCorp press release.

Nevada Adopts Solar Energy Incentives, Awards First to Washoe Tribe

Nevada has ample solar energy resources, a fact that led the state's legislature to pass a bill last year that provides incentives for solar power installations. In early April, the Nevada Public Utility Commission (PUC) voted to adopt new regulations to implement those incentives, thereby establishing the state's Solar Energy Systems Demonstration Program. The new program offers $5 per watt of solar generating capacity, up to a combined total of 500 kilowatts, beginning this July. By 2006, the incentive payment will be reduced to $3 per watt, but the total eligible capacity will be expanded to 3 megawatts. In exchange for the incentive payment, participants will transfer the Renewable Energy Credits from their installations to their utility, thereby helping the utilities to meet their renewable energy requirements. In late April, the Nevada PUC announced the first participant in the program: the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. The tribe will install a 7.5-kilowatt solar power system on the Washoe Environmental Protection Department building in Gardnerville, about 15 miles south of Carson City. See the Nevada PUC's press releases from April 8th (PDF 116 KB) and April 28th (PDF 104 KB). Download Acrobat Reader.

The Nevada PUC also took action in late April to encourage renewable energy development in the state by requiring the state's utilities to consider the economic impact and environmental benefits of renewable resources when preparing their long-term energy plans. The new regulations also allow the PUC to award financial incentives, such as enhanced financial returns, for some renewable energy projects. See the Nevada PUC press release (PDF 112 KB).

Geothermal Power Projects Under Development in Nevada and Idaho

Crucial steps are now underway in the development of two new geothermal projects in Nevada and Idaho.

Nevada Geothermal Power, Inc. completed the second deep geothermal test well at its Blue Mountain geothermal project in northern Nevada in late April. Although the first well found geothermal fluids at a temperature of 300 degrees Fahrenheit—sufficient for power production—the company announced last week that it has found a maximum temperature of 330 degrees Fahrenheit during preliminary tests at the second well, which was primarily funded by DOE. The company believes that the geothermal resource at the site extends over a two-square-mile area, which bodes well for power production. The company plans to develop a 30-megawatt geothermal power plant at the site, and believes the site could eventually support 100 megawatts of geothermal power production. See the Nevada Geothermal Power press release from May 6th (PDF 114 KB) and the Blue Mountain project description. Download Acrobat Reader.

In Idaho, U.S. Geothermal Inc. is preparing to begin flow tests on its five production wells at its Raft River Geothermal Project. The site is the former location of a DOE demonstration plant for binary-cycle power technology and includes four production wells that were drilled in the late 1970s. The company has also leased a fifth production well on an adjacent property. After about a month and a half needed to open the wells and clear them of debris, the flow tests should last one to two more months. Funded largely by DOE, the flow tests will help determine the potential energy production from the geothermal wells, which will allow the company to design the power plant for the project. The company is currently negotiating a contract with Idaho Power Company to supply 10 megawatts of geothermal power for 20 years, and is working with the Bonneville Power Administration on the plant's connection to the power grid. Located in central Idaho about 10 miles north of the Utah border, the project could be the first commercial geothermal power plant in Idaho. See the company's press releases from February 17th (PDF 78 KB) and April 21st (PDF 78 KB).

U.S. Geothermal plans to build a binary-cycle power plant at Raft River, employing the same technology that was first demonstrated there by DOE over 20 years ago. Binary-cycle power plants use the hot geothermal fluid to vaporize a secondary fluid, which is then routed through a turbine to produce power. The secondary fluid is then cooled and reused, and the cooler geothermal fluid is injected back into the underground reservoir, allowing virtually no emissions from the power plant. See the technology description from the DOE Geothermal Energy Program and the project description from U.S. Geothermal.

New System Generates 4.5 Megawatts from Gas Turbine Exhaust

ORMAT, a company known largely for geothermal power development, announced in late April that it has installed a heat recovery system at a natural gas processing plant in Louisiana. The system draws on the ORMAT Energy Converter, which uses binary-cycle power plant technology. It converts the waste heat from two gas turbines into 4.5 megawatts of power, and has been operating since February. Although the system is the first of its kind in the United States, ORMAT has installed similar units in Canada, Germany, and Japan, and plans to startup an additional 24 megawatts of heat recovery plants in early 2005. See the ORMAT press release and technology description.

Site News

Distributed Energy Forum

The Consumer Energy Council of America's Distributed Energy Forum provides basic information about distributed energy, as well as a calculator that provides cost estimates for a range of distributed energy installations and locations. Distributed energy involves generating power at or near the end user, in contrast to conventional electricity produced at large central generating plants and requiring transmission over long distances to customers. The Distributed Energy Forum Web site helps consumers understand distributed energy technologies, basic economic factors, and regulatory and environmental issues, so they can make informed decisions about whether a specific distributed energy technology is appropriate for their needs.

Energy Connections

Despite a Rough Spring, California Expects No Power Problems this Summer

The operator of California's electrical power grid reported in mid-April that the state should have adequate power resources to meet its peak demand this summer, "barring transmission outages, significant generation outages, natural disasters, or local and/or national catastrophes." The California Independent System Operator (ISO) expects the state's peak power demand to hit 44,422 megawatts this summer, while it expects to have 48,712 megawatts of generation available, plus 75 megawatts of demand response, yielding a power surplus of 2,750 megawatts. The ISO warns, however, that congestion of the transmission lines serving southern California could cause reliability problems there. The ISO also adds an additional caveat to its forecast, warning that "early, extended operation of generating units can result in higher forced outages or encroachment upon environmental limitations, which restrict the number of hours a generating unit can run." See the California ISO's "2004 Summer Assessment" (PDF 720 KB). Download Acrobat Reader.

This summer may go well, but the ISO has already had some difficulties this spring, as unexpectedly high power demands struck while some power plants were still down for maintenance. Heat waves in late March and again last week caused the ISO to declare power emergencies. Last week's heat wave caused a peak demand of about 40,451 megawatts, and led the ISO to ask Southern California Edison (SCE) to curtail its load by 600 megawatts through voluntary power reductions by commercial users. See the press releases from the California ISO and SCE.
- posted by Daniel @ 5:31 PM

 
From Climatebiz News:

In This Issue:

The word of the month for April was "coalition," as businesses, governments, and NGOs banded together to push for a more immediate, concerted response to climate change. In the U.K., a just-launched organization called The Climate Group is pooling resources from a wide variety of sectors to work toward global greenhouse gas reductions. And across the pond, business and government leaders have voiced their common support for a mandatory GHG reduction program in the U.S. We expect this heartening trend to continue in the months ahead.

Also this issue: Columnist Gary Cohen takes a discerning look at UV/EB technologies and their potential for eliminating VOCs and other polluting chemicals from production processes.

News and Columns

WBCSD, WRI Launch New Corporate GHG Reporting Standard
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development and World Resources Institute have released a new edition of the international standard used worldwide by businesses to report and set targets for their greenhouse gas emissions.

New 'Climate Group' Allies Companies with Government, Banks, and Nonprofits
Prime Minister Tony Blair has pledged his support for a new organization dedicated to accelerating the world's response to climate change.

Southern Company, TXU to Report to Shareholders on Climate Preparedness
Responding to shareholder requests for disclosure on how companies are planning for potential constraints on carbon dioxide and other emissions, power giants Southern Co. and TXU have agreed to report publicly on how they are planning for those scenarios.

SC Johnson to Install Second 'Clean Burning' Gas Turbine
SC Johnson has announced plans to install a new natural gas-powered turbine that will provide electricity and steam to Waxdale, the company's largest manufacturing facility.

Oki Electric to Slash CO2 Emissions through Server Consolidation
Oki Electric Industry Co. has announced that it will reorganize systems within the company and halve the number of its current 3,400 office servers by April 2006 in order to reduce power consumption as part of its effort to protect the environment.

Clif Bar Expands Fight Against Global Warming
The company is partnering with nonprofit Undoit.org to help educate the public about global warming and encourage passage of federal legislation that would limit greenhouse gas emissions.

COLUMN: Putting More P2 in Your Production Processes
Are UV/EB systems the future of pollution prevention technology? By Gary Cohen

Diverse Group of Leaders Outlines Framework for Mandatory Climate Change Action
A mandatory greenhouse gas reduction program for the U.S. could be both effective and politically feasible, according to a diverse group of business, government, and environmental leaders brought together by the Aspen Institute and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change.

More News and Columns >


Tools and Resources

Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator
Translates GHG reductions from units that are typically used to report reductions into terms that are easier to conceptualize.

Journey to Work: 2000
Report shows that the pattern of commuting to work in the U.S. did not change dramatically from 1990 to 2000.

CO2 Reduction: Case Studies
Find out what other companies are doing to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Emissions Trading FAQs
Answers to frequently asked questions about emissions trading include links to related reports and resources for further information.

Carbon Finance Fact Sheet
A succinct introduction to the business of carbon finance.

More Resources and Tools >


Best Practices

STMicroelectronics: Commitment to Zero-Net Carbon Emissions
Global corporation pledged to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2010.

University of Buffalo: Reducing Carbon Footprint
As a result of more than a dozen energy-saving strategies, the university estimates that it is preventing the release of more than 31,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.

More Best Practices >
- posted by Daniel @ 5:19 PM

 
Some stories in North American Windpower (http://www.zackin.com/naw/) this month:

In our May 2004 issue of North American Windpower you'll find these important stories!

Cover Story

Community Wind Flourishes In Minnesota Farms: Renewable energy production has become a cash crop for farmers who are banding together to sell green power...Page 1

Spotlight On

Minnesota The Leader In New Wind Projects In 2003: State incentives and regulatory policy initiatives combined to help the state build 226 MW of new capacity last year...Page 8

Marketplace

RECs - Innovative Products For Wind Power Markets: A solution that uses a creative financial instrument is gaining importance in the promotion of wind and other renewable energy development...Page 12

Building The Wind Energy Industry For The Coming Wave: Companies employ a variety of strategies as they prepare for the next great development cycle of wind power projects...Page 16

Getting Wind Of Transmission Reliability: The output of wind projects is now too large to ignore when system failures occur...Page 37

Industry At Large

Europe Taking The Lead - A Vision For Offshore Energy: A new report says 30% of energy needs could be satisfied by wind technology by 2020...Page 20

Greening The Marketplace For Renewable Energy: Explaining reliability is seen as a critical way to gain customer acceptance...Page 24
- posted by Daniel @ 4:54 PM

 
Global warming's sooty smokescreen revealed

Smoke is clouding our view of global warming, protecting the planet from perhaps three-quarters of the greenhouse effect. That might sound like good news, but experts say that as the cover diminishes in coming decades, we are in for a dramatic escalation of warming that could be two or even three times as great as official best guesses.

This was the dramatic conclusion reached last week at a workshop in Dahlem, Berlin, where top atmospheric scientists got together, including Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen and Swedish meteorologist Bert Bolin, former chairman of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

IPCC scientists have suspected for a decade that aerosols of smoke and other particles from burning rainforest, crop waste and fossil fuels are blocking sunlight and counteracting the warming effect of carbon dioxide emissions. Until now, they reckoned that aerosols reduced greenhouse warming by perhaps a quarter, cutting increases by 0.2 °C. So the 0.6 °C of warming over the past century would have been 0.8 °C without aerosols.

But the Berlin workshop concluded that...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 4:37 PM

 
HELP SAVE OUR FUTURE - JOIN THE PLAN B TEAM.


Dear Friend,

Since the publication of "Plan B: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a
Civilization in Trouble," we have made a startling discovery. Literally
hundreds of enthusiastic readers of "Plan B" have purchased additional
copies for distribution to friends, colleagues, and opinion leaders. Our
publication sales database shows that 413 individuals have purchased 5 or
more copies. Leading the Plan B Team is Ted Turner who has bought and
distributed 3,513 copies.

With such an enthusiastic reception, we designated those who bought 5 or
more copies members of our Plan B Team--individuals working together to
save our future. Like me, these readers sense that our modern civilization
is in trouble and they want to do something about it.

"Your vision of a sustainable planet is a ray of hope in a sea
of despairing news." -Fran Bodell

WHAT IS PLAN B?

In "Plan B" Lester Brown explains what actions we can take to deflate the
bubble before it breaks. It includes a massive mobilization--a worldwide
effort at wartime speed--to stabilize population, raise water
productivity, and stabilize climate. Restructuring the world economy to
achieve these goals is an enormous undertaking, but the cost of not doing
so is unacceptably high.

"The future might judge this book the most important ever
written; we strongly encourage you to get and read it."
# The Michael Consulting Group

Our only hope now is rapid systemic change--change based on market signals
that tell the ecological truth. This means restructuring the tax system:
lowering income taxes and raising taxes on environmentally destructive
activities, such as carbon emissions. Unless we can get the market to tell
the truth and to send the right signals, consumers, corporate planners,
and government policymakers will continue making faulty decisions. The
eventual result of ill-informed economic decisions and the economic
distortions they create is economic decline.

Stabilizing population depends on filling the family planning gap and
bringing all the world's people into the twenty-first century, making sure
that their basic needs for food, education, and health care are met. Given
the wealth that exists in the world today, we can satisfy the basic needs
of people everywhere. Indeed, we cannot afford not to do so. This is not a
handout. It is an investment in our future.

"...a clear and remarkable summation of a new plan for society."
# Gianfranco Bologna, World Wildlife Fund Italy

The challenge is not only to alleviate poverty, essential though that is,
but in doing so to build an economy that is compatible with the earth's
natural systems--an eco-economy that can sustain progress. This means
restructuring the energy economy, shifting from a carbon-based to a
hydrogen-based economy. It means doubling water productivity over the next
half-century, much as we did with land productivity over the last one.

"...the most important voice of our time." -Judy Hyde, Quaker
activist

HELP SAVE THE FUTURE: JOIN THE PLAN B TEAM

If you support the goals of "Plan B" and want to work for change, you can
do so by distributing copies to your friends, colleagues, and political
representatives both at the local level and in Washington. You may also
want to get copies to your local paper or favorite columnist. Or send one
to your local library.

For our part, we are sharply reducing the price of the book ($16) for bulk
sales. http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/index.htm

ORDER YOUR COPY NOW ... ONLY A CLICK AWAY AT
http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/index.htm

OR CALL US AT (202) 496-9290.

For the list of Plan B Team members go to
http://www.earth-policy.org/Books/PlanB_team.htm

Sincerely,

Reah Janise Kauffman
Vice President
Earth Policy Institute
- posted by Daniel @ 4:35 PM

 
Application deadline nears for Governor's Pollution Prevention Awards

The Waste Management and Research Center is accepting applications for the 2004 Governor's Pollution Prevention Awards, a program recognizing Illinois companies and organizations for innovative pollution prevention efforts. The deadline is fast approaching, as applications for the awards are due no later than May 21.

For 18 years, the WMRC has presented the Governor’s Pollution Prevention Awards to private and public sector organizations and businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence. Any Illinois public or private organization is eligible to apply for an award through the program. Eligible applicants are evaluated in one of the following categories:

• Small, Medium or Large Business/Industrial Facility
• Vendor/Supplier
• Community Group
• Trade Organization/Association
• Educational Institution
• Service Organization (i.e., medical, military, government)

Technical experts from WMRC will review applications and site visits may be performed. Winners will be announced at the Governor’s Pollution Prevention Awards luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 21 at the Abbingdon in Glen Ellyn.

Information on the awards program and an application form are available by contacting Bob Iverson, WMRC Information Services Manager, at 217/333-8946, e-mail biverson@wmrc.uiuc.edu, or on the WMRC web site at http://www.wmrc.uiuc.edu. Click on "Governor’s Awards" in the Special Projects section of the home page.

The WMRC is a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
- posted by Daniel @ 4:34 PM

 
The Great Lakes Directory (http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org) is a comprehensive online resource highlighting environmental issues around the Great Lakes basin. The Directory contains daily environmental articles, a network of over 1,000 environmental groups, funding resources, free environmental software, nonprofit management resources, and a massive library of online Great Lakes environmental information.

Here are your weekly Great Lakes environmental jobs, events and news headlines from the Great Lakes Directory. More headlines, action alerts, resources, grants, jobs, and free activist software at http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org.



THIS WEEK’S GREAT LAKES HEADLINES:

05/11 - LOCAL COMMENT: Groundwater regulations guard against overuse, misuse

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/051104__great_lakes.htm

05/11 - STATE SHORELINE: Lawmakers should stay out of permit process

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/051104_great_lakes.htm

05/11 - Plastic fibre a 'major pollutant'

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mn/051104_great_lakes.htm

05/06 - Long Lake: Association stands up to zebra mussels

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/050604_great_lakes.htm

05/06 - Funding for water cleanup delayed

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mn/050604_great_lakes.htm

05/06 - Gulls reflect changes in Great Lake pollutants

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/on/050604__great_lakes.htm

05/06 - Belleville - Ambitious plans for source water protection

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/on/050604_great_lakes.htm

05/05 - Bio oil to power up the Sault

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/on/050504_great_lakes.htm

05/05 - BASF Wyandotte site is kind to environment

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mi/050504_great_lakes.htm

05/04 - Ash borer not alone in threatening shade trees

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/oh/050404_great_lakes.htm

05/04 - Saving the oceans

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mn/050404__great_lakes.htm

05/04 - Bayfront water garden designer sees big things in small package

www.greatlakesdirectory.org/mn/050404_great_lakes.htm



GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL JOBS:
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/jobs.htm

GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS:
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/events.htm

This e-mail was sent to you from the Environmental Association for Great Lakes Education (EAGLE):
http://www.eagle-ecosource.org

To subscribe and receive Great Lakes environmental news, action alerts, jobs and events in your e-mail once a week:
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org

-----------------------------------------------
Laura Novitzki
Great Lakes Directory / EAGLE
394 Lake Avenue South, Suite #222
Duluth, MN 55802
Phone/Fax: (218) 726-1828
laura@eagle-ecosource.org
- posted by Daniel @ 4:14 PM

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/12/2004
CONTACT: Tony Ives, (608) 262-1519, arives@wisc.edu; Bradley Cardinale, (608) 262-9226, bjcardinale@wisc.edu

STUDY EXAMINES FUTURE OF SPECIES EXTINCTION, CONSERVATION

MADISON - Extinction doesn't just affect the species that disappears - it alters entire communities, changing both how the community as a whole and the individual species within it will respond to environmental degradation, according to results published in the May 13 issue of Nature.

With extinction continuously altering the fates of plants and animals, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison say, it may be extremely difficult to predict which organisms will be the next to cease existing and that the wisest conservation plan is one that reaches beyond a particular species to protect entire communities.

The pair of researchers, interested in understanding what happens when species go extinct, developed mathematical models that look at changes in a community's tolerance to a particular environmental condition, such as global warming or acid rain.

They found that, as individual species start to disappear, two forces begin to act upon a community, making it either more or less tolerant to the environmental condition. One of these forces occurs when species disappear in the order of their sensitivity to a particular environmental factor, with the least-tolerant ones going extinct first.

"We know that some species are more sensitive to environmental stressors," says Anthony Ives, a UW-Madison zoology professor and co-author of the Nature paper. "And they often go extinct in order of their sensitivity."

With the disappearance of organisms most vulnerable to a certain condition, such as the increase of nutrients in lake water, the species best suited for that condition are left behind. This ordered extinction, notes Ives, makes the community as a whole more resistant to that environmental pressure and, in a sense, protects it from future degradation.

"One important message is that if we're going to understand the consequences of extinction, we need to pay attention to order," says Bradley Cardinale, a UW-Madison postdoctoral fellow and co-author of the recent paper. "If species go extinct in a particular order, it is possible for the surviving community to become more resistant overall."

While this finding may sound like good news, there is a downside: The researchers say that a community's resistance to an environmental condition can shift over time due to yet another force - changes in food-web interactions resulting from the extinction of individual species. All species are part of a food web, whether they are predators, prey or even competition. When a member of the food web goes extinct, it indirectly alters the livelihood of the survivors, note the researchers.

Ives explains, "Now free from the species that fed on it or competed with it for food, a species may increase in abundance." By increasing in abundance, he adds, the species makes the entire community more tolerant to the environmental pressure.

However, according to the models, the continuous extinction of organisms from a community ultimately dampens the ability of surviving species to compensate, or increase in population size, and, consequently, makes the community less resistant to changes in the environment.

"The loss of species tends to deplete a community's ability to withstand environmental degradation," says Ives.

Cardinale says that these changes in the food web and their indirect effects on organisms within a community can "change the order of extinction," basically foreshadowing new fates for species. He explains, "A species that seems insignificant now may become important later on once it's released from predation or competition."

Because of the dynamics of the food web, the researchers say it becomes challenging to determine which species may vanish next due to the forces of extinction. This leads them to suggest a more holistic approach to conservation.

"We can't just go out and conserve one species," explains Cardinale. "Because we have no idea what species may make the community resistant in the future, we would be most prudent to conserve as many as we can right now."
###
- Emily Carlson, (608) 262-9772, emilycarlson@wisc.edu




****************************************************
For questions or comments about UW-Madison's email
news release system, please send an email to:
releases@news.wisc.edu

For more UW-Madison news, please visit:
http://www.news.wisc.edu/

University Communications
University of Wisconsin-Madison
27 Bascom Hall
500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Phone: (608) 262-3571
Fax: (608) 262-2331
- posted by Daniel @ 3:50 PM

 
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Great Lakes News: 17 May 2004
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium.

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Urban oasis signals riverfront change
----------------------------------------
Michigan's first urban state park, a 31-acre patch of green space among
Detroit's graffiti-spattered buildings, is scheduled to open Thursday.
Source: Detroit Free Press (5/17)


Readers are fans, foes of ferry
----------------------------------------
Rochester's new high-speed ferry has arrived, but area residents seem
divided as to its prospects and potential benefits. Source: Rochester
Democrat and Chronicle (5/17)


Oak Creek power plant would draw heavily from lake
----------------------------------------
A new coal-fired power plant in Wisconsin could become one of the one of the
largest water users on the Great Lakes, using as much water each day as
Chicago and 100 surrounding suburbs. Source: The Appleton Post-Crescent
(5/17)


Maumee dredgings may be put to good use
----------------------------------------
A proposal to use silt dredged from Lake Erie's shipping channels to help
reclaim Ohio's many abandoned mines could help provide a practical
alternative to open-water disposal. Source: The Toledo Blade (5/17)


Green conscience vs. green consumerism
----------------------------------------
A majority of us consider ourselves to be environmentally-friendly, but
don't always act that way. Part of the reason is that being earth-friendly
can be pretty darned inconvenient. Source: Great Lakes Radio Consortium
(5/17)


Locals oppose park plan
----------------------------------------
A proposal to designate about 16 percent of Pictured Rocks National
Lakeshore as wilderness, making it off-limits to motorized recreation, is
unleashing a new wave of complaints. Source: The Detroit News (5/16)


Reserve Mining's legacy of pollution lingers
----------------------------------------
Thirty years after Reserve Mining Co. made headlines in a landmark pollution
lawsuit, the company's legacy continues to haunt regulators who have found
3,600 barrels of hazardous waste buried at the taconite plant in Silver Bay.
Source: Duluth News Tribune (5/16)


EDITORIAL: Unprotected Great Lakes
----------------------------------------
As national and global water supply issues grow more critical, the people of
Michigan must demand that their leaders get this state a decent water
protection law. Source: Detroit Free Press (5/16)


Ohio shoreline bill debate to heat up
----------------------------------------
Ohio state lawmakers hope a compromise on the Lake Erie shoreline bill can
be worked out next week, but activists on both sides of the issue are
pessimistic. Source: Port Clinton News Herald (5/15)


Appeals Court: Shoreline property rights extend to water's edge
----------------------------------------
The Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled that property owners who live along
Great Lakes shores have exclusive access up to the water's edge, a decision
that could affect where people are allowed to walk along the lakeshore.
Source: The Detroit News (5/15)

For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/

Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html


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- posted by Daniel @ 3:49 PM

 
Study supports controversial offshore numbers
Last modified: May 17, 2004, 4:15 AM PDT
By Ed Frauenheim
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

A new report by Forrester Research defends the company's controversial assertion that more than 3 million U.S. jobs will move offshore by 2015, and even raises the estimate of positions at risk in the near future.

The report, being released Monday, projects that 3.4 million jobs will move overseas in the next 11 years, roughly the same as the 3.3 million long-term figure it estimated in its original study two years ago. The 2002 survey by the Cambridge, Mass., firm contributed to the political firestorm surrounding offshore outsourcing after its findings were widely circulated in the press and elsewhere.

Forrester also increases its near-term estimate of lost jobs by 240,000 in its new report, projecting that a cumulative total of 830,000 positions will have moved offshore by 2005. The research reinforces earlier Forrester findings that were cited by Sen. John Kerry, before he became the all-but-official Democratic presidential nominee, in introducing legislation last year to regulate the call-center industry.

Ironically, the new report said...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 3:42 PM

 
Kucinich quietly campaigns in Oregon

Portland, OR, May. 17 (UPI) -- Democratic Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich campaigned his way through Oregon Monday on the eve of the state primary, the New York Times said.

While...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 9:49 AM

 
Posted on Mon, May. 17, 2004

Unflagging Kucinich aims to change party's direction

By Rick Lyman

NEW YORK TIMES

PORTLAND, Ore. - Before Americans get too engrossed in a general election contest between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, would like to remind them of something: He's still out here, working hard every day, slogging from town to town, the second-to-last person still standing in the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"Math is not my major, but I can count," the Ohio congressman said as his car wound along the dripping piney woods of the central Oregon coast, a glowering sky flecking the windshield with pin-size raindrops. "I understand that Kerry has enough delegates to be nominated. I can count, but I can also figure."

And this is how Dennis Kucinich, former boy-mayor of Cleveland whose half-forgotten, dead-but-still-twitching presidential campaign is now targeting Tuesday's Oregon primary, figures it:

"The reason I have not dropped out of the race is that we may have a nominee, but the future direction of the Democratic Party has not yet been determined."

And what he wants Kerry, and the Democratic Party, to do is to take an unambiguous stand against not only the war in Iraq but against "the very idea that war is inevitable." The nation's whole political mindset must be changed, Kucinich said.

"We are at the unusual juncture where what is morally right and politically efficacious are in confluence," Kucinich said. "My presence in the race provides...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 3:20 AM

 
From Greenbuzz:

Taking Care of Business

Last week saw more corporate movement on the e-waste issue as Dell and UPS both announced programs to help companies and private users better manage outdated computers and other electronics equipment. Dell's voluntary commitment to increase recovery rates by 50% was one of the highlights of its just-released sustainability report for 2004. We're hoping the other big computer makers will sit up and take notice.

Also: Introducing the new and improved NetRegs, the U.K. Environment Agency's Web site to help small businesses avoid regulatory fines.

----------------------------------------------------------

Headlines
The Latest News on Business and the Environment


Dell Targets 50% Increase in Recovery Rate of Used Computer Products
Dell has set the aggressive goal to increase recovery of used computer products by 50% over the amount collected in Dell's fiscal year 2004.

UPS to Help Companies Manage Unwanted Electronics
UPS Supply Chain Solutions has announced a new service that helps companies properly manage the disposition of used and obsolete electronic goods and components.

Johnson Controls Makes 'Blue Sky' Sustainability Commitment
To support its commitment to sustainability, Johnson Controls has announced a new global program called Blue Sky. The company says the program will strengthen its focus and performance in two key areas: the environment and leadership development.

PG&E Named First Business to Receive Climate Action Champion Award
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has been recognized with the Climate Action Champion Award by the California Climate Action Registry for demonstrating exemplary leadership in addressing climate change in California.

Calpine Commits to Low Carbon Future to Ease Global Warming
Calpine's Chairman and CEO Peter Cartwright has announced plans to address global warming by voluntarily limiting the company's investments to only low carbon power generation.

Put GreenBiz news on your site for free! Learn more...

More Headlines...


================================================

Resources and Tools
A Wealth of Hands-On Help

NetRegs
Provides environmental compliance assistance to small and medium-size companies in England and Wales.

Resources for Citizens
Helpful tips and resources for concerned citizens seeking to make a difference in how we deal with global environmental challenges.

RETScreen Renewable Energy Project Analysis Software
Enables users to evaluate Renewable Energy Technology (RET) projects quickly and effectively.

More Tools... | More Web Sites...

=================================================

Columns and Features
Insight and Inspiration from the Experts

A New Trinity of Corporate Creeds
An excerpt from the forthcoming book, "Better Products, Better World: Leadership As If People Mattered." By Bruce Piasecki

Wanna write for GreenBiz? Let us know if you'd like to write a guest column or feature reflecting your experiences or opinions in the environmental business world. Send a brief query to Editor@greenbiz.com | Read our editorial guidelines

More Columns... | More Features...



- posted by Daniel @ 3:11 AM

 
ENN Environmental News Network
E-mail Edition 05/13/2004

Efficiency can help meet EPA smog rules while saving companies money, says report
Energy-efficient manufacturing practices that protect the bottom line can take the sting out of complying with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new smog rules, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-13/s_23283.asp

Outdoor gear makers urge Bush administration to protect roadless forests
Arguing that protecting forests is good for business, major manufacturers of outdoor gear, including footwear giant Nike, are urging the Bush administration not to open roadless areas of national forests to logging.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-13/s_23856.asp

Garbage hits beach at "Bloody Tarawa" in new, trashed Pacific
On the beach at "Bloody Tarawa," where U.S. Marines died by the hundreds, the broken bottles, crushed boxes, and plastic bags are now piling up by the millions.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-13/s_23852.asp

Inuit "poisoned from afar" due to climate change
The Inuit living in the Arctic region are being "poisoned from afar" as climate change takes its toll on the area and threatens their existence, the head of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference said Wednesday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-13/s_23841.asp

Hairs help spider feet stick and other stories
The spider in your window keeps its grip on glass thanks to foot Velcro. A new study of the jumping spider Evarcha arcuata demonstrates that thousands of tiny hairs give spider feet extraordinary cling.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-13/s_23284.asp

Wal-Mart to pay $3.1 million to settle water pollution charges
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to pay a $3.1 million fine to settle charges of violations of the federal Clean Water Act at store construction sites across the country, the U.S. government said Wednesday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-13/s_23832.asp

Wetter world counters greenhouse gases, says scientists
Australian scientists have found the Earth may be more resilient to global warming than first thought, and they say a warmer world means a wetter planet, encouraging more plants to grow and soak up greenhouse gases.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-13/s_23835.asp

Cod could be wiped out within 15 years, says WWF
The world's cod stocks could be wiped out by 2020 because of overfishing, illegal catches, and oil exploration, the environment group WWF said Thursday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-13/s_23853.asp

Asia's "last frontier" poised for irrevocable change
Camera-wielding Western tourists ambush a dawn procession of monks in this once tranquil royal capital. Chinese engineers erect huge dams and blow up rapids on one of the world's last great untamed rivers.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-13/s_23673.asp

California water district approves plan to pay farmers for irrigation water
A Southern California water agency approved a new plan thie week that will pay farmers to rotate their crops so irrigation water can be diverted to residents in coastal communities.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-13/s_23857.asp

Thousands to meet for talks on tackling Earth's environmental problems
The extinction of species and diseases like bird flu are among environmental problems to be tackled by thousands of delegates at a global conference later this year, organizers said on Wednesday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2004-05-13/s_23855.asp



Environmental Marketplace Updates (Become a Member)

We'd like to encourage you to visit our Environmental Marketplace where you'll learn about some amazing environmentally-focused businesses. A few examples:

Winslow Management Company, with an approach to investing that is based on the conviction that environmental responsibility enhances corporate profitability and investment performance. Learn more about Winslow Management Company

Bullfrog Films, the oldest and largest publisher of videos and films about the environment in the United States, bringing together programs that point the way to a new paradigm for living happily, healthily, and sustainably. Learn more about Bullfrog Films

UC Press, the publishing arm of the University of California, and Sierra Club Books, publishing arm of the Sierra Club. Learn more about UC Press and Sierra Club Books

ShoreBank Pacific, creating strong companies, vibrant communities and a healthy environment. Learn more about ShoreBank Pacific





Today's Press Releases (Become an Affiliate)
Direct from non-profit environmental and educational organizations.

Atlantic Salmon Federation:
Atlantic Salmon Federation Welcomes Senator Meighen

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society:
Federal government moving toward nomination for World Heritage Site status

United Nations Environment Programme:
Forest Loss Catastrophic for Wild Bamboo Warns UNEP Report

The Trust for Public Land:
TPL Receives "Four Cs" Award for NM Work

The Trust for Public Land:
600 Acres in NJ Highlands Protected

The Trust for Public Land:
Agreement Signed on Bolton Apple Farm (MA)

Earthjustice:
Conservation Groups Sue to Protect California Spotted Owl

The Trust for Public Land:
Meserve Farm Protection Completed (ME)

Wild Salmon Center:
Salmon Refuge Established on Kamchatka

Rainforest Action Network:
New Ads Depict Ford As "America's Oil Addict"

World Resources Institute:
Fighting Poverty with Profit

United Nations Environment Programme:
Governments Propose New CITES Trade Rules For Dozens of Wildlife Species

Earthwatch Institute:
Manatees Take to Reefs in Belize

Alliance to Save Energy:
Energy-Efficiency Tax Incentives Benefit Consumers, Nat'l Security, Says Alliance to Save Energy

Center for Biological Diversity:
Groups File Suit to Protect Seven Imperiled Butterflies on Three Continents

IUCN - The World Conservation Union:
The World's Largest Democratic Environmental Forum to Assemble in Thailand in November 2004
- posted by Daniel @ 1:31 AM

 
WIND.ALERT FOR MAY 2004 FROM WINDPOWER
MONTHLY

Here are your summaries of the top stories in the May 2004
issue of Windpower Monthly. For a descriptive list of this
month's full contents just go to
http://www.windpower-monthly.com/current

-------------------------
Four big wind markets on the make
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 5 2004
--------------------------
The past few weeks have seen a flurry of positive political
activity in a range of geographical markets -- and the news is
nearly all good. Denmark is cheering a new energy strategy
focused on reviving its wind development offshore and on land.
Brazil announced its long awaited wind power purchase prices.
Spain's wind sector is discovering that new market rules are
better than it thought. And Germany has settled the past year’s
uncertainty with a new tariff scale that most can live with. What
it all means for sales of wind turbines, only the... (Go to
http://www.windpower-monthly.com/current,#focus to read more
about this article)

-------------------------
Denmark back on track
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 5 2004
-------------------------
What's interesting about the revival of Denmark's wind
market is that the political agreement behind it is not
primarily about wind power, but about social and
economic welfare. For wind power delivers more than
electricity, a cleaner environment, and jobs. In a
modern society it also.... (Go to
http://www.windpower-monthly.com/currentleader to read
more about this article)

-------------------------
Five year extension to Britain's Renewables Obligation
fails to ease investor uncertainty
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 5 2004
-------------------------
The quick end-of-year fix of Britain's Renewables
Obligation (RO) made by energy minister Stephen Timms
in December is failing to provide the market certainty
needed to make renewable energy projects an attractive
investment. As a result, government targets for wind power
will not be met, believe a majority of investors and investment
experts responding to a recent survey. A further concern is the
behaviour of the six electricity suppliers charged with meeting
the obligation, who appear ready to abuse their market power to
protect the high price of their renewable energy certificates by
not meeting the targets. In the May issue of Windpower Monthly we
take a look at the survey's findings and some suggested solutions
to the problems.

-------------------------
Federal rule changes needed to get transmission ready
in Tehachapi
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 5 2004
-------------------------
With a significant portion of California's future wind
resources expected to be built in the transmission
constrained Tehachapi Wind Resource Area in the
southern part of the state, the California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) looks set to take the unusual step of requiring
utilities and developers to plan transmission upgrades ahead of
time. The state utility, Southern California Edison, says such
major forward planning requires changes to both state and federal
rules. While it supports the concept of planning ahead, it says
it needs clarity from the CPUC on how it can cover its costs for
advance investments. Read more about the debate in this month's
issue of Windpower Monthly.

-------------------------
New Ontario land lease policy allows developers
access to public lands
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 5 2004
-------------------------
A new land lease policy allowing wind project developers
access to the 87% of Ontario ground owned by the
Crown is being heralded as an important step forward
by the Canadian wind industry. The province released its
policy last month, setting out the application process
and rental fees. Windpower Monthly looks at how the
barriers to wind investment are coming down in
Ontario -- and at those the industry has left to conquer.

-------------------------
Selling repowered turbines fast becoming a
growing industry
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 5 2004
-------------------------
Governments in Europe's pioneering wind power
countries are introducing regulations to stimulate the
replacement of old wind turbines with new. The aim
is to increase productivity at the windiest sites.
Stockpiles of old machines are growing -- and so
are sales of them to eastern Europe and even to
Britain and Canada. A second hand turbine industry
has been flourishing in Denmark for years and is
now spreading to Germany and Holland. Read about
some first experiences in the repowering market
in the May issue of Windpower Monthly.

-------------------------
First projects beginning to emerge from Germany's
complex permitting process for offshore wind plant
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 5 2004
-------------------------
A huge number of projects are inching their way
through Germany's offshore permitting process, but
the earliest sign of wind plant construction is still at
least a year away. Find out how proposed amendments
to Germany's renewable energy law could affect
offshore projects. We also look at the backstage
activities of several companies and publish a detailed
overview of the current status of all projects in the permitting
pipeline. See the May issue of Windpower Monthly.

-------------------------
Making the business case for wind at Global
Windpower 2004
Windpower Monthly, Vol 20, No. 5 2004
-------------------------
Investment in wind power is good for business, good
for electricity customers and good for shareholders.
That was the refrain heard time and again at the
Global Windpower 2004 Conference and exhibition
in Chicago as members of a new breed of wind business
boss stepped up to the podium. Their presentations
were also flavoured with a pragmatic reality about
wind's future role in power supply which did more to
inspire confidence than many a grand visionary speech.
Catch a full round-up of activities at this year's conference and
why the big boys are in town in the current issue of Windpower
Monthly.

-----------------------------------
See this month's free online material at:
http://www.windpower-monthly.com/current

For the full picture, including access to the extensive online
database, subscribe now at:
http://www.windpower-monthly.com/subs

Advertise to a quality audience via Wind.Alert or Windpower Monthly.
For more information, contact advertising@windpower-monthly.com

For wind power technology facts and figures check out WindStats:
http://www.windstats.com

-------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to this free service at http://windpower-monthly.com/alert
- posted by Daniel @ 1:27 AM

 
Kucinich bucks odds,
targets Oregon primary
By SUSANNAH ROSENBLATT
Los Angeles Times

THE DALLES, Ore. - Dennis Kucinich doesn't believe in conventional wisdom.

Especially not the kind that says with Sen. John F. Kerry as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, it's time for Kucinich to pack up and head home.

Kerry's nomination has been a foregone conclusion since early March. But that hasn't stopped Kucinich from spending 16-hour days zipping through the lush river gorges and mountain passes of Oregon to stump for votes.

The Ohio congressman has been canvassing the state in a monthlong campaign blitz leading up to Oregon's presidential primary on Tuesday. The contest might be Kucinich's last, best shot to put a liberal dent in the Democratic Party's platform.

Kucinich said he's acknowledged that, "The nomination was basically determined." But as he munched on vegan (egg-free) marshmallows from the backseat of the campaign's rented gold Ford Freestar minivan last week, he added, "I'm staying in it because the direction of the party hasn't been determined."

If Kucinich has his way, that direction will be...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 12:14 AM

 
Down but Not Out, Kucinich Keeps On Fighting
By RICK LYMAN

Published: May 17, 2004

ORTLAND, Ore., May 16 - Before Americans get too engrossed in a general election contest between President Bush and Senator John Kerry, Dennis J. Kucinich would like to remind them of something: He's still out here, working hard every day, slogging from town to town, the second-to-last person still standing in the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"Math is not my major, but I can count," the Ohio congressman said as his car wound along the dripping, piney woods of the central Oregon coast, a glowering sky flecking the windshield with pin-sized raindrops. "I understand that Kerry has enough delegates to be nominated. I can count, but I can also figure."
(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 10:57 PM

 
ALERT (US): America's Organic Standards Under Attack

http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm

USDA'S NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM (NOP) HAS ANNOUNCED CONTROVERSIAL NEW DIRECTOVES ON NATIONAL ORGANIC STANDARDS.

Over the past few weeks America's organic standards have once again come under heavy attack. First the USDA's NOP announced on April 14 that they would no longer monitor or police "organic" labels on non-agricultural products, literally opening the door for unscrupulous companies to put bogus organic labels on products such as fish, body care products, pet foods, fertilizer, and clothing.

In addition, the USDA will now permit pesticides on crops, artificial growth hormones to be injected into cows, and mercury and PCB's in fishmeal fed to cattle.

PESTICIDES
The USDA has now stated that as long as the farmer and the organic certifier don't know the specific ingredients of the pesticides applied to the "organic" plants, the crops can be sold as "organic". To make matters worse, it is not required by law for pesticide companies to list the ingredients on their products (it's considered proprietary information), so the farmers rarely know what the specific ingredients are.

ARTIFICIAL GROWTH HORMONE
The USDA has announced that individual cows can be treated with any kind of drug at any time, including synthetic growth hormones, but milk can only be sold from that cow 12 months after that treatment. The problem with this directive is that it opens up the door for split operation factory style dairy farms, whereby organic and non-organic dairy operations are carried out simultaneously, and hundreds if not thousands of "organic" dairy cows are kept in intensive confinement. Not only are industrial sized dairy farms bad for the environment, but they inevitably give rise to sick cows who have to be treated with drugs. Of course many of these drugs build up in the body fat and are released in the milk and meat from these animals. If this new directive is allowed to stand, organic milk could potentially contain residues of drugs and hormones.

MERCURY AND PCB'S IN FEED FED TO CATTLE
The USDA also stated on April 28 that non-organic fishmeal can be fed to cattle, and the beef can still be sold as "organic". Fishmeal is used as a protein supplement on conventional cattle ranches, but it frequently contains mercury, PCBs and other synthetic chemicals. Mercury and PCBs are "bioacculmulators" meaning they are concentrated and stored in the "meat" of the animal.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm
Click above to go to the Organic Consumers Association to send a letter to Secretary Anne Veneman, voicing your concerns over the degradation of our organic standards. These changes were made without any public comment period, so now is the time to voice your concerns!


==============================================
For more Sustainable Agriculture action alerts, go to: http://www.gracepublicfund.org/farming/
- posted by Daniel @ 5:33 PM

 
From Earthtech at Yahoo Groups;

Message: 1
Date: Thu, 13 May 2004 09:54:32 -0500
From: "Ed Blume" eblume@renewwisconsin.org
Subject: Midwest Renewable Energy & Sustainable Energy Fair

I copied below a column about the Renewable Energy and Sustainable
Living Fair of the nonprofit Midwest Renewable Energy Association.

I want to share the column for two reasons -- first, to let people know
about the Fair and encourage them to attend; second, to invite anyone
and everyone to use the column in any upcoming newsletter they might
publish and to post it on any appropriate Web sites and list serves.

Ed Blume
Communications/Outreach
RENEW Wisconsin
222 S. Hamilton St.
Madison, WI 53703
608.819.0748
http://www.renewwisconsin.org

Feature material
Contact:
Katy Matthai
Midwest Renewable Energy Association
715.592.6595 katy@the-mrea.org

Fantastic Fair Features Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living
by Tehri Parker, MREA Executive Director

Wisconsin welcomes one of the country's most unique
gatherings in Custer, Wisconsin, seven miles east of Stevens Point, on
Friday June 18 through Sunday, June 20, 2004.

Thousands will gather from across the country and from as
far away as Europe for the 15th annual Renewable Energy and Sustainable
Living Fair, the largest and oldest of its kind in the world.

Sponsored by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association
(MREA), it's like no other fair in Wisconsin. The fair presents
classes, workshops, lectures, music, vendors and displays on renewable
energy systems - wind, solar, wood-burning furnaces and biomass
digesters. There is also information on alternative construction -
straw bale houses, green building techniques, super insulation, and
underground homes; as well as food and gardening - vegetable seed
saving, herbs for everyday and planting a yard without a lawn. Three
in-depth workshops cover solar water heating, PV (photovoltaics) solar
electric systems, and cordwood masonry.

Exhibitors will offer advice and products on energy and
sustainable living, including wind turbines, solar panels, landscaping,
gardening, energy efficient appliances and energy conservation.

Fairgoers can take in over 120 workshops and visit with more
than 175 exhibitors.

The ReNew the Earth Institute, located on the twenty-acre
fairgrounds, houses the MREA's offices and showcases practical
applications of solar electricity, wind energy production, green
construction, and renewable heating. Renewable home tours, originating
from the fair on all three days, show similar construction and energy
applications in nearby residences.

This year's fair also features several nationally renowned speakers -
Amy Goodman, host and executive producer of Democracy Now!; Richard
Perez, publisher and editor of Home Power magazine; John Stauber,
founder and executive director of the Center for Media and Democracy;
and, Richard Heinberg, author of several books, including The Party's
Over: Oil, War, and the Fate of Industrial Society.

Entertainment includes Baba Ghanooj on Friday night, with an
evening of favorite songs from the Beatles to Neil Young. Saturday
night, the Reptile Palace Orchestra, will play Balkan, Middle Eastern,
blues, swing, and metal-influenced music. .

Every great fair offers delicious food, and the day begins
with a breakfast cafe, which later transforms into a pizzeria serving
organic pizza and beer from Central Waters Brewery.

Camping is available at the nearby Portage County
Fairgrounds in Amherst. The site's grassy lawn and scattered trees
accommodate tents, car campers and RVs.

Fair admission for adults is $10 per day or $25 for the weekend. Admission for seniors and students is $8 per day or $15 for
the weekend. Children under 12 are free.

Full details on the Fair are available at the MREA Web site
at www.the-mrea.org , or by calling 715.592.6595.

Like every fair, the Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living
Fair offers something for everyone. Don't miss it, June 18-20, Custer,
Wisconsin, just east of Stevens Point.

END
- posted by Daniel @ 4:58 PM

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/14/2004
CONTACT: Patrick Strickler, (608) 262-7840, pstrickler@wisc.edu

UW-MADISON REACHES OUT TO HELP BUSINESSES, STRONGER ECONOMY

MADISON - In today's increasingly complex and competitive business environment, most companies need every available resource to survive and flourish. And, in today's challenging economic environment, helping businesses succeed can have the added benefit of building a stronger job base and, over time, a healthier tax base.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is in the first year of a new initiative to help businesses and, in the process, contribute to a stronger state economy. With a mandate from Chancellor John D. Wiley, the university opened the Office of Corporate Relations (OCR) in mid-2003 to provide a new, first point of contact for people looking for resources and help for a range of needs.

"It's an important role for a large public research university like ours," says Charles B. Hoslet, OCR's managing director. "We're finding that wherever we go, business executives, community leaders and people involved in economic development recognize the value of the university to their areas of need, whatever that may be."

Led by Hoslet, OCR's business-relations experts have discovered that the business community in and beyond Wisconsin is very interested in tapping into the resources of one of the country's leading public research universities.

Businesses are finding help on the Madison campus in such areas as the recruitment of graduates and interns, continuing education and professional development programs, faculty expertise and company-sponsored research opportunities, and a wealth of new and emerging technologies available for licensing through the university's Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF).

In addition, OCR can help companies connect with expertise on other UW campuses around the state, Hoslet points out.

"There has been a great deal of interest in working more closely with the University of Wisconsin, here in Madison and on the other campuses," he says. "One of the issues that has confronted companies in the past is the sheer size and complexity of the Madison campus. We're trying to make it easier for companies to work with us. We connect them with the expertise they need, and follow through to make sure their questions are answered and their needs are met.

"We're also seeing the real connection between successful companies and a healthy economy, which is something we all have a stake in."

Hoslet and Bob Brennan, the former president of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce who joined the OCR staff as a special consultant in late 2003, have been meeting with Chamber of Commerce executives and business leaders in many Wisconsin communities, making sure they are aware of the university's commitment to supporting a stronger Wisconsin economy.

"This is an effort we will be building on in the months ahead," says Brennan. "The reception we've received in community after community tells us there is real interest in learning more about how the university can play an even greater role in helping businesses and supporting economic development in Wisconsin."

In addition to its offices on campus and at University Research Park on the west side of Madison, OCR has established a Web site (www.corprelations.wisc.edu) that provides a menu of services for businesses, and information on how to contact the office.

"This new venture has been welcomed by companies all across Wisconsin and beyond the state as well," says Hoslet. "As we go forward, we want all parts of the business community to know that they can look to UW-Madison for help. That's what we're all about."
###


****************************************************
For questions or comments about UW-Madison's email
news release system, please send an email to:
releases@news.wisc.edu

For more UW-Madison news, please visit:
http://www.news.wisc.edu/

University Communications
University of Wisconsin-Madison
27 Bascom Hall
500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Phone: (608) 262-3571
Fax: (608) 262-2331
- posted by Daniel @ 4:57 PM

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/14/2004
CONTACT: Nancy Gores (608) 265-3299, nagores@ wisc.edu

CONFERENCE TO ASSIST WISCONSIN PLASTICS MANUFACTURERS

MADISON- Plastics executives, business owners, and process engineers can learn about technology transfer opportunities of cutting-edge research that will re-shape the landscape of plastics engineering and manufacturing during a two-day conference at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The conference, titled " Innovative Plastics Manufacturing Technology," will be held Wednesday-Thursday, June 9-10, at the College of Engineering, 1550 Engineering Drive.

Organizers say new polymer engineering innovations can help Wisconsin plastics manufacturers remain competitive within the offshore, low-wage, global economy, particularly through manufacturing of high-end-value, advanced polymer products for various industries.

There will be hands-on sessions led by UW-Madison researchers to discuss results from ongoing industry pilot projects using emerging polymer processing technologies such as biopolymers and microcellular nanocomposites.

At a Wednesday evening banquet, keynote speaker Bruce Beihoff, director of innovation and technology for Whirlpool Corp., will speak about "The Process of Developing Innovative Processes: Opportunities for Wisconsin and the United States."

Employment in Wisconsin's plastics industry ranks 10th in the nation, totaling more than 53,500 jobs, and the state is ranked 12th in the nation for plastics shipments, totaling $9.9 billion in 2001, according to Plastics Data Source.

This university-industry conference to enhance economic growth is sponsored by a "Partnership for Innovation" research grant from the National Science Foundation. It's led by the UW Polymer Engineering Center and the UW E-Business Institute in partnership with the State of Wisconsin and other UW campuses, technical colleges and corporations in Wisconsin's plastics manufacturing industry cluster.

The conference agenda and registration materials are available at http://pec.engr.wisc.edu.
###





****************************************************
For questions or comments about UW-Madison's email
news release system, please send an email to:
releases@news.wisc.edu

For more UW-Madison news, please visit:
http://www.news.wisc.edu/

University Communications
University of Wisconsin-Madison
27 Bascom Hall
500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706

Phone: (608) 262-3571
Fax: (608) 262-2331
- posted by Daniel @ 4:52 PM

 
From the IL Kucinich Yahoo Group:

Message: 2
Date: Fri, 14 May 2004 13:47:33 EDT
From: runswithglitter@aol.com
Subject: American Candidate

(from my friend Gilda)

Apparently the revolution WILL be televised, after all!

Keeping in mind that more Americans cast votes for the American Idol than for
George W. Bush, this new reality TV show, American Candidate, may be the way
that crucial issues finally get into the spotlight.
The website lists hundreds of Americans, each with their own webpage, who are
in the running for one of the 12 positions in this show. I didn't find a
place where someone could sign up, but I was able to click on a link to the "most
recent applicants for the last seven days", so maybe they are still taking
applicants.

It's a creative way to get the important issues talked about!

Out of the pool of applicants, the show will choose twelve to begin with, and
that number will be whittled down each week this fall, leading up to
November. Based on the popularity of American idol, oddly enough, it might be
possible for the winner of this to actually make a splash in Nov. as a write-in
candidate.

Selected candidates receive a stipend of $500/week, and the winner gets
$200,000 and a nationwide media appearance after the election.

American Candidate - About political reality tv series
http://www.americancandidate.com/about_about_ac.php

Meryl Ann
- posted by Daniel @ 4:46 PM

 
IDAHO GREEN PARTY eNEWS 3(8)
May 15, 2004

For an online version of this issue, visit:
http://www.idahogreens.org/Greenweb/eNews/enews03_08.html

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
1. BSU HONORS CAMPUS GREENS
2. GREENS CALL FOR RESIGNATIONS OF TENET, RUMSFELD, AND BREMER
3. WWP SUES LAND BOARD FOR VIOLATING STATE LAW
4. ADA COUNTY GREEN PARTY SEEKS NEW CC MEMBER
5. EVIDENCE OF ASTEROID LINKED TO PERMIAN MASS EXTINCTION
6. IDAHO GREEN PARTY TO RUN CANDIDATE FOR US SENATE
7. AIR FILTERS ARE A GOOD INVESTMENT
8. ANNOUNCEMENTS
9. GREENBLIP
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
- posted by Daniel @ 4:40 PM

 
From Wired News (And not necessarily all in agreement with my personal opinions.)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Economy Doesn't Need Protection (Wired magazine 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.05/view.html?pg=5
Imagine a major-party candidate delivering the stump speech Silicon
Valley needs to hear. The message? Protectionism will only make things
worse. By Lawrence Lessig from Wired magazine.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Crater Linked to Mass Extinction (Technology Thursday)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/technology/0,1282,63453,00.html/wn_ascii

An ancient crater buried off the Australian coast could be a key piece
of evidence in determining the cause of a mass extinction on Earth
approximately 250 million years ago, say scientific researchers. By
Amit Asaravala.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Designer Virus Stalks HIV (Med-Tech Center 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,63441,00.html/wn_ascii

Researchers have developed a potential novel treatment for AIDS -- a
synthetic parasite virus. It's scary but awesome, they say. Kristen
Philipkoski reports from Berkeley, California.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tech Execs Lean Right (Politics 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/politics/0,1283,63422,00.html/wn_ascii

While the technology industry usually contributes roughly equal sums
to Democrats and Republicans, the same can't be said of tech
executives. In this year's presidential race, CEOs of the largest tech
firms are largely backing Bush. By Joanna Glasner.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

U.S. Officials Sport Fake Degrees (Politics 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/politics/0,1283,63436,00.html/wn_ascii

More than 400 government employees, including many high-ranking
officials, received fake degrees from diploma mills, according to
congressional investigators. The findings spur calls for better means
to vet academic credentials. By Ryan Singel.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Mexican Air Force Films UFOs (Technology Wednesday)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/technology/0,1282,63433,00.html/wn_ascii

Pilots conducting drug surveillance over Campeche state filmed 11
unidentified flying objects in early March, after the UFOs appeared to
surround the aircraft. Now, Mexican officials release the video.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Read This, Jump Into Blog Fray (Politics 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/politics/0,1283,63331,00.html/wn_ascii

What's Making Blognews is a handy site for politics nuts. It lists all
the top stories making the rounds on the blogosphere. Unlike other
sites, it focuses only on political stories, cutting out the fat. By
Daniel Terdiman.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How Does Fat Kill Thee? Many Ways (Med-Tech Center Tuesday)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,63425,00.html/wn_ascii

New research into how fat behaves in the human body sheds light on the
toxic effects of oily, troublesome flab. Turns out the simple physical
burden of excess pounds is the least of its dangers.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Diebold May Face Criminal Charges (Machine Politics 8:55 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/evote/0,2645,63191,00.html/wn_ascii

A panel that recommended decertifying Diebold's touch-screen voting
machines in California also wants to see the company face charges for
violating the state's election laws. Kim Zetter reports from
Sacramento, California.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dems Hold the High Ground Online (Politics 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/politics/0,1283,63183,00.html/wn_ascii

The presidential election of 2004 may come down to who wins the most
swing states -- and does the best job organizing and campaigning
online. By Daniel Terdiman.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Damaging Drug Study? Bury It (Med-Tech Center Thursday)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,63186,00.html/wn_ascii

Pharmaceutical companies may have been hiding data that shows some
antidepressants might actually hurt depressed kids rather than helping
them, according to a new study. By Kristen Philipkoski.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Seeking Riches From the Poor (Business 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/business/0,1367,63131,00.html/wn_ascii

South African entrepreneurs have discovered a stunningly large and
lucrative market: Africa's poor. By providing services that the
developed world takes for granted, the entrepreneurs are making money -
- and making lives easier. Part 3 of a three-part series. Megan Lindow
reports from Cape Town.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

No Privacy for the Poor, Homeless (Security Blanket Thursday)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,63173,00.html/wn_ascii

Tracking the homeless using government-mandated databases would
endanger battered women and rob the poor of their privacy while not
improving services, experts say. Ryan Singel reports from Berkeley,
California.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Climate Change Out of the Blue (Technology 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/technology/0,1282,63365,00.html/wn_ascii

Contrails -- those wispy trails left in the sky by airplanes -- may
play a part in warmer U.S. temperatures, according to a recent NASA
study. By Douglas Page.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Blood Feud Kills Off Fat Cells (Med-Tech Center 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,63388,00.html/wn_ascii

Cancer researchers looking for a way to kill tumors found a way to
knock off fat cells in mice, cutting off their blood supply with a
peptide. By Kristen Philipkoski.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hybrid Mileage Comes Up Short (Autopia 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/autotech/0,2554,63413,00.html/wn_ascii

Hybrid car owners who thought they'd be getting much better fuel
efficiency than conventional cars have been disappointed. The problem
isn't company claims, it's an outmoded EPA testing procedure. By John
Gartner.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Monsanto Backs Off Bio-Wheat (Business Monday)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/business/0,1367,63403,00.html/wn_ascii

Facing strong opposition from an American wheat industry afraid of
losing its European customers, Monsanto decides to stop developing
biotech wheat and focus instead on cotton and soybeans.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Feds Answer Calls for Nuke Safety (Politics Saturday)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/politics/0,1283,63389,00.html/wn_ascii

For years, watchdog groups have argued in vain for new security
measures at the nation's nuclear weapons labs. Finally, Energy
Secretary Spencer Abraham appears to be listening. By Noah Shachtman.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NASA Funds Sci-Fi Technology (Technology 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/technology/0,1282,63362,00.html/wn_ascii

The space agency has a little-known research arm that's looking into
the wildest technology imaginable -- antimatter propulsion, weather
control and robotic asteroid destroyers, to name a few. But can it
survive a budget crunch? By Noah Shachtman.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How the Word Gets Around (Culture 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/culture/0,1284,63344,00.html/wn_ascii

How does a meme travel through the blogosphere? The Memespread Project
seeded an idea and watched it grow, learning a lot about information
transmission along the way. By Daniel Terdiman.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Stealing Back the Airwaves (DAT's Entertainment 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,63343,00.html/wn_ascii

As summer camps go, it's unusual. In four days, you can learn to build
transmitters and antennas, and get advice on handling any FCC agents
wondering about your new radio station. By Jason Silverman.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E-Voting Commission Gets Earful (Machine Politics 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/evote/0,2645,63349,00.html/wn_ascii

In a tiny room packed with activists, reporters and concerned
citizens, the Election Assistance Commission hears testimony from
makers of e-voting machines and the people who oppose them. Michael
Grebb reports from Washington, D.C.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Business Buys Into Fuel Cells (Technology 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/technology/0,1282,63335,00.html/wn_ascii

California businesses are taking advantage of government incentive
programs to use renewable energy sources like fuel cells and solar
panels, but independence is still a way off. By John Gartner.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Blogs Counter Political Plottings (Politics 2:00 a.m. PDT)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/politics/0,1283,63334,00.html/wn_ascii

Most political consultants work to suppress people from voting -- at
least those who might vote against their candidate. But activists are
using the Web to counter those conventions, say panelists at a
conference about virtual communities. By Kim Zetter.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

California Bans E-Vote Machines (Machine Politics Friday)
http://go.hotwired.com/news/evote/0,2645,63298,00.html/wn_ascii

Secretary of State Kevin Shelley decertifies all touch-screen voting
machines and recommends charges against Diebold. By Kim Zetter.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- posted by Daniel @ 4:17 PM

 
Please protect wild salmon from new harmful federal policy

TAKE ACTION - http://ga0.org/campaign/bush_admin_salmon_policy_thompson_ltr .

With about a week left before the Bush Administration officially
releases a plan that could eliminate protections for endangered
wild salmon, we need your help today to urge your congressional
member to stand up in opposition to the Administration's plan.

(Note: I sent out an alert a couple days ago and there were some
major bugs in our system that prevented many people from being
able to send a letter to their members of Congress. The system
is now fixed, (I am told), and I would like to express my
apologies for the breakdown, and also ask you to please act on
this alert - even if you already did earlier).

Send your elected officials a note asking them to help defend
our endangered wild salmon and steelhead, and the habitat that
they depend upon. Our success to restore wild salmon and
steelhead depends on your support and help. Thank you for your
understanding and your support.

All the best,
Joseph Bogaard
Columbia & Snake Rivers Campaign

Please take five minutes to urge your congressional member to
sign onto the letter led by Rep. Thompson (D-CA), Rep. Shays
(R-CT), and Rep. Farr (D-CA), which opposes the Bush
Administration efforts to abandon salmon restoration. Nothing
can replace wild salmon and steelhead once they've gone extinct.

You can take action on this alert either via email (please see
directions below) or via the web at:
http://ga0.org/campaign/bush_admin_salmon_policy_thompson_ltr/

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about how Bush
Administration Attacks Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Efforts.
http://ga0.org/campaign/bush_admin_salmon_policy_thompson_ltr

We encourage you to take action by June 1, 2004

Bush Administration Attacks Salmon & Steelhead Recovery Efforts

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this
alert by going to the following URL:

http://ga0.org/campaign/bush_admin_salmon_policy_thompson_ltr
- posted by Daniel @ 4:12 PM

 
Oregon and Beyond

SEAN PENN, THE ANTI-WAR ACTIVIST, CAMPAIGNS WITH KUCINICH IN OREGON

As one of Hollywood's biggest stars and this year's Best Actor Oscar Winner for his role in Mystic River, most people know Sean Penn for his on-screen acting abilities. It was Penn's off-screen opposition to the Iraq war, however, that brought him to Oregon Tuesday night to stand with Kucinich at a press conference in Portland. Like Kucinich, Penn has opposed the war from the start; he even traveled to Iraq before the war to call attention to the added suffering war would bring to Iraq. The pair called for U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq and lamented the prison abuse scandal. "This is only consistent with the history of all wars," said Penn. "What is happening in all of those prisons is no surprise to those people who have paid any responsible attention to what's gone on in the history of the planet in wars. So this is something we can expect to get worse in a lot of the corners of the world." [See video of press conference]

OREGON STATE REPRESENTATIVE ENCOURAGES VOTE FOR KUCINICH

Northeast Portland state representative Joe Smith asked Oregon voters to "help put Kucinich ideas on the table" in a letter to the editor printed in today's Oregonian. Representative Smith wrote: "The issues Rep. Kucinich, D-Ohio, has raised, and the goals he has urged us to look at, demand attention in the coming national debate, and we can assure that by sending a few Kucinich delegates to the Democratic National Convention who will see to it those issues and goals are clearly on the table." [Read full letter]

KUCINICH IS COMMITTED TO REMAINING PRIMARY SCHEDULE

After Oregon, Congressman Kucinich is still committed to campaigning in the remaining Democratic primaries and caucuses. He will be making campaign stops in Alabama, Puerto Rico, Montana, South Dakota, and New Jersey. Check the schedule for more details.

DEMS ROLL OUT WELCOME MAT FOR KUCINICH

Democrat presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is still campaigning all across the country, challenging Sen. John Kerry and the leadership of the Democratic Party, but Monday night, at the grand opening of his Convention Center headquarters in downtown Boston, one of the leaders of the Democratic Party rolled out the welcome mat.

Alice Huffman, chairwoman of the Democratic National Convention Committee, accepted an invitation to attend the opening event and had nothing but praise for Kucinich and his uphill battle. [Read more]

STAND WITH DENNIS AT CONVENTION: ORDER YOUR CONVENTION PACKAGE TODAY!

Finding accommodations in Boston during the Democratic National Convention is certain to be very difficult. Unless, of course, you are a Dennis Kucinich supporter!

The Kucinich Campaign has secured nearly three thousand beds in Boston to accommodate the many supporters coming to participate in activities surrounding the Convention. Reserving your Convention Package is quick and easy with our new online reservation system. [Read More]
[Click here to make a reservation]

NEWS MEDIA RECOGNIZES KUCINICH CONVENTION EFFORT

This week, both the Boston Globe and the Cleveland Plain Dealer ran articles on the Kucinich Campaign Convention plans. The news media has recognized that Kucinich really is taking his issues all the way to the Convention in an effort to help strengthen the platform of the Democratic Party.

* Read Boston Globe article
* Read Plain Dealer article

OPPORTUNITY TO COLLECT SIGNATURES AND PROTEST WAR PROFITEERING

Throughout his campaign, Kucinich has pledged doing away with "Halliburton sweetheart deals" is important for an exit strategy for Iraq. Halliburton, Vice President Dick Cheney's former company, has been the number one beneficiary of the invasion of Iraq, raking in some $9 billion in contracts to rebuild Iraq's oil industry and service the U.S. troops. There have been frequent allegations of fraud, waste and corruption by Halliburton. Meanwhile, Halliburton has failed to rebuild key oil infrastructure, provided shoddy services to U.S. troops in the field, and has taken jobs away from qualified Iraqi businesses and workers. Isn't it time for Halliburton's Iraq contracts to be revoked?

Come to Houston on Wednesday, May 19 at 8:00 a.m. for a lively protest against war profiteering and corporate cronyism outside Halliburton's shareholder meeting in Houston. Bring along some of our U.N. in, U.S. Out petitions and collect signatures to petition the Democratic Party.

For more information see Houston Global Awareness, Global Exchange, and United for Peace and Justice.

Click here to contribute to Kucinich for President online.

Contact us:
Kucinich for President
11808 Lorain Avenue - Cleveland, OH 44111
216-889-2004 / 866-413-3664 (toll-free)
http://www.kucinich.us
- posted by Daniel @ 3:15 PM

 
Doug Moss
Publisher & Executive Editor

*****************************************
***Week of 5/16/04 EARTH TALK installment***:

EARTH TALK
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: What happens to the chemicals in drugs once they are out of our systems? -- Courtney Moschetta, Huntsville, AL

Every time you swallow a pill, some of that medicine follows a circuitous path through your body, down the toilet, through the sewage treatment plant (where if is often resistant to traditional treatments) and into the nearest river or lake, where it is eventually tapped again for the public drinking water supply.

According to Christian Daughton, chief of environmental chemistry at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Environmental Research Laboratory in Las Vegas, new technologies now allow scientists to detect extremely low levels of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as compounds found in personal care products like shampoo and sun screen, in water. In Kansas City alone, more than 40 percent of stream samples analyzed recently by the U.S. Geological Survey had detectable amounts of over-the-counter-drugs like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, antibiotics, and prescription medications for high blood pressure.

While the effects on human health of drug residues in water are not yet a serious concern, new studies show that fish and other aquatic species may be affected, says Daughton. Antibiotics make some species more resistant to pathogens, steroids can cause endocrine disruption that interferes with reproductive processes, and anti-depressants make fish tranquil and more likely to succumb to predation. Considering the large variety of pharmaceuticals on the market today, our water may have a witch’s brew of very small amounts of many different kinds of drugs.

Right now there are no EPA or Food and Drug Administration regulations in place to control levels of residual drugs in water, but some environmental groups concerned with water quality want to see drug disposal policies enacted, new sewage treatment technologies developed, and source reduction efforts on the part of pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies. Daughton envisions a day when drug companies will take responsibility for the life cycle of their products. Instead of flushing your unused prescription drugs down the toilet, you may be able to send them back to the pharmacy or return them to the maker for proper disposal. Such programs already exist in areas of Europe and Canada.

CONTACT: EPA National Environmental Research Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division, http://www.epa.gov/nerlesd1/chemistry/pharma/overview.htm; United States Geological Survey’s Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, http://toxics.usgs.gov/regional/emc.html.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; or submit your question at: www.emagazine.com, or e-mail us at: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

***********************************************************************************************************EARTH TALK
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard that Singapore controls the number of cars on its roads. How does this work? -- Karen Abromovich, Trumbull, CT

Nearly 42 million cars were produced worldwide in 2003. More cars, of course, mean more congestion and more air pollution. In response, a handful of regions, including Singapore, are trying to limit the number of cars on the road.

Singapore implemented a “Vehicle Quota System” in 1990. According to the Singapore Land Transport Authority, which administers the program, the number of new vehicles allowed for registration is pre-determined annually, taking into account prevailing traffic conditions and the number of vehicles already on the roads.

The vehicle quota for any given year is administered through a monthly auction of “certificates of entitlement,” which are bid by prospective car owners and must be obtained before their vehicle is allowed on the road. This free market approach sets a relatively high price for a certificate; a quota premium on a car can cost as much as $16,000 in U.S. dollar equivalent. But as a result of the program and its high prices, the number of automobiles in Singapore increased just 22 percent from 1993 to 2003 (from 584,000 cars to 711,000), even though population increased 46 percent during the same time period.

Last year London began implementing a “Congestion Pricing System,” which is being touted as the new international model for transportation reform, according to Walter Hook, executive director of the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy. Between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. there is an extra charge to drive on certain downtown roads. Exemptions exist for taxis, emergency vehicles and other special classes of cars, including alternative energy vehicles. Traffic is monitored by camera, and violators risk fines starting at 78 pounds ($140 U.S.). The British government hopes to cut congestion downtown--where traffic speeds now average three miles an hour--and raise 130 million pounds ($230 million U.S.) per year in the process. A similar system has been in place in Trondheim, Norway for at least 10 years.

Could such systems ever work in the U.S.? Michelle Ernst, senior analyst at the Surface Transportation Policy Project, which advocates for alternative transportation choices, is doubtful, saying that Americans are too attached to their cars, and at present public transportation in many areas is not convenient. “If a system similar to Singapore’s were to be implemented in the U.S., a likely candidate would be New York City, where there is a well developed dense urban core. But that’s a long way off,” says Ernst. “Mayor Bloomberg was interested, but found it politically unfeasible.”

CONTACT: Singapore Land Transport Authority, +011 1800 - 2255 582, www.lta.gov.sg/; Institute for Transportation & Development Policy, (212) 629-8001, www.itdp.org; London City Hall, +011 020 7983-4000, www.london.gov.uk/mayor/congest/index.jsp; Surface Transportation Policy Project, (202) 466-2636, www.transact.org.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; or submit your question at: www.emagazine.com, or e-mail us at: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

EarthTalk
Questions and Answers About Our Environment
A Weekly Column
******************************************************
c/o E/The Environmental Magazine
***A nonprofit publication***
28 Knight Street, Norwalk, CT 06851
PHONE: (203) 854-5559/(X106) - FAX: (203) 866-0602
E-mail: earthtalkcolumn@emagazine.com
******************************************************
Mail: P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881 U.S.A.
- posted by Daniel @ 3:00 PM

 
Kucinich: Oil co. profiteers pushing up gas prices

From Bend.com news sources
Posted: Saturday, May 15, 2004 5:00 PM
Reference Code: PR-15546

May 15 - The record-shattering gasoline prices that Americans are paying at the pump are the result of two related factors, Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich charged today: the war in Iraq and the profiteering of major international oil companies.

"If we weren’t at war, American consumers wouldn’t be paying more than $2 a gallon for gasoline," Kucinich said, while campaigning in Oregon, where gasoline prices were reported as high as $2.43 a gallon.

"The war, the occupation, and a foreign policy that creates fear, uncertainty and instability throughout the Middle East have created concern in the world market that the violence will continue to spread and affect the supply of oil."

The result: crude oil reached a 21-year high of more than $41 a barrel. A year ago, it was trading at about $30 a barrel.

At the same time, Kucinich said, major oil companies are capitalizing on that uncertainty and are earning record profits. Five of the world’s largest oil companies had combined earning of more than $17 billion in the first three months of this year*.

"It's an outrage that a working family has to pay $2.40 or more for a gallon of gas while oil company executives, speculators, and commodities traders are raking in billions of dollars in profits," Kucinich said.

"First, the Bush Administration concocted reasons to go to war. Then, it began paying billions of dollars to private, hand-picked contractors to reconstruct what the war destroyed. And now, on top of that, it has created a climate that enables its friends in the oil industry to make billions more."

He also expressed concern that the situation is being deliberately manipulated to affect the November general election. Referring to recent disclosures that..(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:59 PM

 
Local Green Party leader joins Democrats to back Kerry

Published: May 15, 2004

By Chris Barker

The Bulletin

Sitting at A Cup of Magic in Bend on a chilly spring morning, 25-year-old Amy Terebesi, chairwoman of the Central Oregon Chapter of the Pacific Green Party, earnestly explains how legalizing hemp could solve Oregon's economic woes.

Water contamination in third world countries kills a surprising number of people, Terebesi says. She's in favor of logging, but not cutting down old-growth timber.

And just in case you didn't know, the U.S. war in Iraq is "all about oil," she said.

So why did Terebesi, one of 77,357 Oregonians who supported Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential election, recently register as a Democrat and pledge to support Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee?

"Basic needs; not spiking trees," Terebesi said. "I mean for real, you can quote me there."

Terebesi, the daughter of a commercial fisherman from Brookings, honed her progressive politics working as a news producer in Eugene for KLCC, a National Public Radio affiliate.

Admittedly, she is just one vote in a swing state still in the process of weighing in on an all-but-meaningless late presidential primary election.

But 13,959 Oregonians currently are registered as Pacific Greens — nearly twice the number that were registered on the eve of the 2000 election, according to the Secretary of State's office.

Since Al Gore beat George W. Bush by only 6,765 votes in Oregon in 2000, that raises the prospect that Democrats have an opportunity to mine left-leaning voters in the fight for the White House.

And it begs the question: Could an army of Amy Terebesis help Kerry win?

For Democrats, many who feel that Nader robbed Gore of a victory over Bush in 2000, Green defections represent an opportunity to rescue the country from irresponsible tax cuts, a failing war effort in Iraq and an environmental policy that has set back conservation efforts by decades.

"I would think if you hit people with a two-by-four it gets their attention," said Mickey Hiland, a Democrat from Crooked River Ranch, of Bush's policies. "What I fear is that another four years and it will be our old growth trees."

Hiland, 67, a retired emergency dispatcher who last volunteered for a presidential candidate when John Kennedy was running, said she hopes Nader will have a change of heart. She said she plans to do volunteer work for John Kerry in Deschutes County.

Declaring his intention to run as an independent, Nader unsuccessfully attempted to gain a place on the presidential ballot on April 5 using Oregon's "assembly of electors" law. The law requires at least 1,000 signatures from people who are gathered in one place over a 12-hour period. ..(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:56 PM

 
Published on Friday, May 14, 2004 by the Baltimore Sun
Kucinich Battles On
by Jules Witcover


Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts has the Democratic presidential nomination sewed up, but that isn't stopping Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio from making an all-out effort to win Tuesday's Oregon primary.

The obvious question: Why? "The decision on the nomination may be decided," the intense self-defined peace candidate says, "but the direction of the Democratic Party is not decided. It's absolutely critical that there be a debate going on inside the Democratic Party on who we are as a party," especially regarding the war in Iraq.

It's hard, though, to get a debate going when you only have about 35 convention delegates and the other candidate is already over the top. But Mr. Kucinich insists that the only way to defeat President Bush is to challenge him head-on and without qualification on the war, so he continues to make the argument with the bark off.

In contrast to Mr. Kerry's insistence that the United States must keep its troops in Iraq until the situation is stabilized, Mr. Kucinich clings to his mantra familiar to debate-watchers earlier this year: "U.N. in, U.S. out!" - and the sooner the better.

Whether now or a year or more from now, he argues, bringing U.S. troops home has to happen. So why spend thousands more American lives and billions of dollars more in American wealth delaying the inevitable?

For the last two months, Mr. Kucinich has been focusing this message...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:54 PM

 
Primary campaigns march on

By BECKY WALDROP
Gazette-Times reporter

Low early turnout gives candidates a final chance to change voters' minds

There's been a line lately to use telephones for the phone bank at Benton County Democratic headquarters with a contested state House race and a local campaign for presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

Going into the final weekend before Tuesday's deadline to return ballots in the primary election, volunteers with District 16 challenger Sara Gelser's campaign and incumbent Rep. Kelley Wirth reported they would be out knocking on doors in an attempt to sway votes of people who have yet to turn in a ballot.

Voter turnout as of Thursday night was 17.4 percent, with 7,634 of 43,860 ballots returned, the Benton County elections office reported.

Low turnout so far presents an opportunity for the two Democrats vying to represent their party in the November general election. The Republican candidate, Arn McKenna is unopposed in the District 16 primary...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:54 PM

 
Help put Kucinich ideas on table
Friday, May 14, 2004

This summer and fall I will enthusiastically be doing everything I can to help elect John Kerry. I will do this for two reasons.

First, I think he will make an excellent and potentially great president; the courage he has shown under fire -- both physical and political -- and his willingness to listen, and to re-examine even his own previous judgments, are exactly what a president needs most.

Second, I can conjure up few things potentially more destructive to the freedoms we treasure, or the well-being of the country I love, than four more years of George W. Bush.

But today I mailed in my ballot, having voted for Dennis Kucinich.

My reason: the issues Rep. Kucinich, D-Ohio, has raised, and the goals he has urged us to look at, demand attention in the coming national debate, and we can assure that by sending...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:53 PM

 
Kucinich Watch: Wonder where Dennis is? He's making a stand in Oregon
Thursday, May 13, 2004
James F. Sweeney
Plain Dealer Reporter

Residents of Ohio's 10th Congressional District who miss their congressman should look west. Far west.

Oregon, which holds its primary Tuesday, has become Rep. Dennis Kucinich's home away from home. The Democratic presidential candidate probably has spent more time campaigning there than in any state since New Hampshire. He is a regular at college campuses and has even aired TV commercials.

He has taken short trips out of the state to campaign in Colorado, Kentucky and Pennsylvania and cast votes in Congress, but he always returns to Oregon.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:48 PM

 
May 11, 2004

Sean Penn, Kucinich preach troop pull-out in Portland

PORTLAND, ORE. - With his supporting actor at his side, Congressman Dennis Kucinich shook hands and spoke to those at the Hawthorne district's 'Bagdad Theater' Tuesday night.

The congressman's support was coming from Academy Award winning actor Sean Penn, who joined Kucinich in his presidential pursuit of Oregon voters.

Penn, who visited Iraq three months before the war, echoes many of Kucinich's...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:47 PM

 
Primaries are a primary concern

Guest Column

by Dennis Dugan and Jen Cramlet

Oregon is one of a handful of states that have yet to count their ballots for the Democratic primary elections -- yet the nominee was chosen long ago. And, judging from the plethora of Bush vs. Kerry campaign ads flooding our TV channels, the battle has already moved on to November's general election.

We may live in a general election "battleground state," but with our measly contribution of just 58 delegates to the party's national convention, we hold virtually no sway. The only one paying any attention to Oregon's upcoming election is Dennis Kucinich -- the locked-in Democratic nominee, John Kerry, has yet to visit the state.

Sure, we get to vote, but it is more of an act of good faith than a show of each individual's political power and influence.

The Democratic primary/caucus system works like this: each state (plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands and Democrats abroad) receives delegates to represent their interests at the convention (most of the 4,319 delegates are chosen via the primary/caucus system directly, while a percentage of these delegates are chosen from previously elected Democrats currently holding office).

Each legislative body conducts..(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:46 PM

 
Posted on Thu, May. 06, 2004

House Condemns Iran's Nuclear Program

JIM ABRAMS

Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The House on Thursday accused Iran of "continuing deceptions and falsehoods" involving development of nuclear weapons and said that Europe, Japan and Russia should cut commercial and energy ties until Iran permanently end such activities.

Among the few dissenters in the 376-3 vote was Democratic presidential contender Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, who said the nonbinding resolution endorsed the administration's doctrine of preventive war.

The resolution states that despite Iran's promises to the International Atomic Energy Agency to end uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities, "it is abundantly clear that Iran remains committed to a nuclear weapons program."

Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., said Iran "has...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:43 PM

 
Hundreds march in Portland May Day rally

05/02/2004

By SARAH LINN / Associated Press

Hundreds of union members and others rallied Saturday for May Day, criticizing corporate America and calling on President Bush to improve his record on creating jobs and securing health care for low-income people.

"This is the worst administration for jobs in my memory," said Susan Howard, who marched in the mild May sunshine with her 10-year-old daughter, Anna.

The marchers, who ranged from hardhatted carpenters to retired teachers and teenagers, gathered at North Park Blocks in Portland and then moved along the Willamette River waterfront.

"I wouldn't miss it," said Hank Curl, 91, who lives in north Portland. He joined a carpenters' union in the 1930s and helped organize the former International Woodworkers of America union.

Curl said that unions should be praised for introducing the standards many American employees take for granted — the eight-hour work day, the 40-hour week and the weekend.
(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:42 PM

 
Hundreds march in Portland May Day rally

05/01/2004

Associated Press

Hundreds of union members rallied Saturday for May Day, with the signs and chants tending to criticize President Bush for his record on creating jobs and securing health care for low-income people.

"This is the worst administration for jobs in my memory," said Susan Howard, who marched with her 10-year-old daughter, Anna...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:41 PM

 
Kucinich campaigns in Louisville

By AL CROSS
across@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich told supporters in Louisville yesterday evening that Kentucky Democrats can help steer their party toward peace in Iraq by voting for him in the state's May18 presidential primary.

"My candidacy makes sure the people of Kentucky have a voice in the primary process," the Cleveland congressman told about 50 people at a $50-a-plate fund-raiser before giving a speech to about 125 at Memorial Auditorium.

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts has garnered enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination.

"What has not been decided is the direction of the Democratic Party, and I'm staying in this race to make sure our party stands for peace, for health care for all, for fair trade, for civil liberties," Kucinich said to...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:39 PM

 
Kucinich launches Oregon TV ad campaign

Also urges feds to go after Columbia polluters

From Bend.com news sources
Last Updated: Saturday, May 1, 2004 11:49 AM
Reference Code: PR-15221

May 1 - Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich launched a major television ad campaign in Oregon to bolster the extensive “ground” campaign he has been conducting here for the past month.

The television ad blitz is a significant departure from the grassroots, “whistle-stop” campaign that the Ohio Congressman – the last remaining challenger to presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry -- has been waging for the past several weeks on college campuses, in labor union halls, community centers, libraries, and other public venues.

A new television ad challenging the Bush Administration’s Iraq policy aired last night in all major Oregon television markets, including during the ABC Network’s Nightline program, which read a list of the names of U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq. The new campaign coincides with...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:38 PM

 
Dennis Kucinich still running

By: PATRICIA GUTH 04/28/2004

In a show of pre-primary fervor, nearly one-hundred Bucks County residents attended a breakfast at the Brick Hotel Friday April 23 to support Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich.

The Ohio Congressman stopped in Newtown during a whirlwind tour of Pennsylvania prior to the April 27 primary. His stop in Lower Bucks County included a speech at George School in addition to the breakfast rally.

Though Massachusetts Senator John Kerry has been preordained the Democratic Party nominee for several weeks, Kucinich continues to stump for issues that are not being addressed in the late primary/early election season.

Supporters from all corners of Bucks County attended $30 per plate fundraiser to hear...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:36 PM

 
Kucinich spreads message

The candidate answers questions about issues ranging from gay unions to Nader’s influence.

SHAWN DAY
Statesman Journal
April 28, 2004

MONMOUTH — U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio fielded questions Tuesday during his visit to Western Oregon University, junior Heidi Kimberling discreetly raised her camera phone and snapped a photo of the Democratic presidential candidate for her mother.

“She’s really into politics,” said Kimberling, 21.

Kimberling and more than 150 students, administrators and faculty members gathered at noon in the Oregon Room of WOU’s Werner University Center to hear Kucinich discuss his message of peace in an hourlong appearance.

It was the first visit to WOU by a major-party candidate for president, university spokesman Erik Peterson said.

Kucinich focused his speech on...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:35 PM

 
Kucinich on campus

Kucinich returns for third visit to Oregon State University

By Dan Traylor
The Daily Barometer

Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is returning to OSU today for an informal question-and-answer session in room 208 of the Memorial Union beginning at 2 p.m.

Kucinich will be joined by Mimi Kennedy, who played Abby on the television sitcom "Dharma & Greg".

The Ohio congressman will address issues important to under-represented students, said Claudia Garcia, a member of MEChA and Kalmekak, the two campus organizations hosting the event.

Garcia, who arranged the event, said anyone from the community or campus is invited to attend.

"Issues that affect one student affect...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:34 PM

 
Posted on Tue, Apr. 27, 2004

Presidential vote symbolic - except to prospective delegates

PETER JACKSON

Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - Robbed of suspense by states with earlier primaries and caucuses, Pennsylvania's presidential primary provided only symbolic significance to everyone except scores of party activists who competed Tuesday for seats at this summer's national nominating conventions...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:33 PM

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 23, 2004
6:08 PM
CONTACT: Kucinich Campaign
Matt Harris, 216.403.3980, press@kucinich.us
Terre Lundy, 515.988.5534

Kucinich Calls for Suspension of Electronic Voting


CLEVELAND - April 23 - Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, who has been sounding warning alarms regarding electronic voting systems since he began his campaign last year, today called on federal, state and local election officials “to suspend immediately the implementation of any voting systems that do not provide a 100 percent reliable paper-trail back-up to corroborate results.”

A decision yesterday by the eight-member California Voting Systems and Procedures Panel that 15,000 electronic voting machines in four counties be banned in the November election because of “glitches” in the March primary election “is more than enough evidence that these systems could undermine the integrity and affect the results of November’s general election,” Kucinich said.

Especially in terms of the Presidential election, Kucinich said, “we cannot entrust the future of our country to technologies that are flawed, suspect, and proven to have failed, especially when those technologies have been developed by companies that have their own political agendas.”

Diebold Election Systems, which came under the harshest criticism from the California elections panel, is headed by...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:31 PM

 
GOP, Democrats to hold conventions

BRAD SHANNON THE OLYMPIAN

Thurston County Democrats who hold their county convention Saturday in Olympia still have unfinished business, even if John Kerry is the party's apparent nominee for president.

"I'm still for Kucinich," Cheryl Crist, local organizer for Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich's campaign said Thursday. She expressed hope that backers of fallen candidates such as John Edwards will switch to Kucinich, giving him potentially a little more representation when the national party..(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:28 PM

 
A Street Fighting Man?
The Only Way Kucinich Can Win
by Josh Frank
www.dissidentvoice.org
April 22, 2004

“Hey! I think the time is right for a palace revolution, Cuz’ where I live the game to play is compromise solution!”

-- Rolling Stones (Street Fighting Man)

While the sun in Iraq scorches an already turbulent soil, the heat of election season is being felt back in the good ol’ US of A. Polls are indicting Bush is recovering from a slight dip in his approval rating as his rival John Kerry is flying around the country ignoring the rising US death toll in Iraq. The escalation in casualties, claims Kerry, has little to do with him or any of the other Democrat and has everything to do with George W. Bush. “We need to internationalize the effort [in Iraq],” blasts Kerry, “and put an end to the American occupation!” Remember, he is admitting that the occupation will surely continue, it’ll just be administered with more diversity. Call it the new age of affirmative action.

Kerry isn’t the only Democrat left in the ring however. Dennis Kucinich, although haunted by a dry bank account and scarce media coverage, says he’s still swinging in the fray. But does the featherweight from Ohio have any fight left in him? Ask his faithful supporters and they will inform you that Kucinich’s campaign still matters. He’s antiwar, anti-investor rights agreements (mislabeled free-trade by many), pro-environment, pro-universal health care, and pro-choice (although late coming). Unlike Howard Dean, Kucinich really does represent what the late Paul Wellstone called the, “Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.”

Nevertheless, Dennis Kucinich has run his campaign without an iota of hope.

It’s not that his supporters haven’t tried hard, they have. In fact they are some of the most committed electoral activists since...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:27 PM

 
Kucinich to speak Monday at Pacific University
Thursday, April 22, 2004

Pacific University's Department of Politics and Government welcomes Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich to campus on Monday, April 26, at 5 p.m. in Taylor Auditorium in Marsh Hall. This event is free and open to the public. Kucinich, who has said he is...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:26 PM

 
May 2004 issue.

The Word from Washington Ruth Conniff

When Kerry Was Liberal


The Bush campaign and its conservative patrons want you to know: John Kerry is the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate. More liberal than Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton, the Generation GOP website crows. The Democrats couldn't have picked a more leftwing Presidential candidate if they'd nominated Dennis Kucinich, The Washington Times reports.

What's going on here?

The "most liberal" label comes from a credible source: the National Journal, bible of Beltway wonks. Guided by contributing editor and CNN commentator William Schneider, the National Journal has been using the same complicated, computerized process to rank "conservative" and "liberal" members of Congress since 1981.

But if Kerry is so liberal, why did Kucinich, Howard Dean, and even John Edwards attract more support from labor, peace activists, and other groups traditionally associated with the left? Why did Democratic Party leaders applaud when these "unelectable" progressives gave way to the more mainstream, moderate Kerry?

Using a different ranking system, the liberal group Americans for Democratic Action put Kerry at number twenty-five among Senate liberals in 2003. (Ted Kennedy ranked number five.) Nor does Kerry make the ADA's lifetime top-ten list of Senate liberals, headed by the late Paul Wellstone at number one.

Jeff Blodgett runs...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:24 PM

 
Deal is done for Deaconess

By TOM CORRIGAN
Staff Writer

April 22, 2004

CLEVELAND — Ward 15 Councilwoman Merle Gordon applauded the deal as probably the best available.

On Monday, federal bankruptcy Judge Pat Morgenstern-Clarren formally approved the sale of the former Deaconess Hospital to MetroHealth Medical Center.

Metro's offer of $3.8 million was declared the best and highest bid from among nine offers made for the shuttered health care facility.

"Clearly, the hope was for a full-service hospital," Gordon said Tuesday.

But she added the next best bid came from an out-of-state, for profit investment group. Gordon said another attempt for such a group to run a hospital at the Deaconess location might have been, in the end, "excruciating." (Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:23 PM

 
READING BETWEEN THE LINES
Why is Kucinich still in the race?

By Lance Selfa | April 23, 2004 | Page 9

EVERY TIME Socialist Worker publishes a story that mentions a criticism of U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, we get dozens of letters complaining that we are giving Kucinich short shrift. No doubt this column won’t be any different.

This tells us that Kucinich has a loyal group of supporters who believe that it’s important to argue for their candidate in left-wing forums. It would be hard to conceive of anyone having the same amount of devotion to presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry.

Nevertheless, it’s important to ask just what Kucinich is up to today--and what he’s asking his supporters to do--long after Kerry has sewn up the Democratic nomination. He insists that he will stay in the race until the Democratic convention in July to fight for progressive policy planks in the Democratic platform.

As he put it in an April 14 appeal for funds on his campaign Web site: "Help keep alive the debate about Iraq. Help keep alive the hopes of people for a single-payer, national health care system. Help keep alive workers' rights, human rights, and environmental quality principles and trade agreements. Help keep alive the efforts to repeal the PATRIOT Act. Help keep alive the progressive movement inside the Democratic Party."

While this succinctly summarizes Kucinich’s reason for staying in the race, it also highlights the biggest problem with...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:21 PM

 
Posted: Apr 21, 2004 - 08:53:43 PDT

Garage sale items sought for Kucinich campaign

Citizens for Democrat Dennis Kucinich for President will hold a fund-raising garage sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 1724 NW 37th St., Lincoln City.

The organization is currently seeking...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:20 PM

 
Kucinich cinches local Democrat nomination
04/22/2004 By Scott Nicholson

Dennis Kucinich carried Watauga County’s Democratic caucus on Saturday, the favorite among those who cast ballots in the party’s vote to determine which candidate delegates will support at the Democratic National Convention in July.

Kucinich received 156 votes, over half the total, while Sen. John Kerry, who has a virtual lock on the party’s nomination, received 66 votes. The two were followed by Sen. John Edwards (64); Howard Dean (22); Rev. Al Sharpton (2); and one write-in vote for Gen. Wesley Clark. It was the first Democratic caucus in the county’s history, necessitated because of the closeness of the Democratic primary on July 20 to the national convention...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:18 PM

 
Kucinich touts progressive agenda

Saturday, April 17, 2004
By DON JENKINS, Columbian staff writer

By the time Dennis Kucinich finished talking, Genevieve Kortes was wiping away tears.

"Kucinich is just my ideal," said the Vancouver woman, who gave her age as old enough to qualify for a senior's bus pass. "I'm shaken up every time I hear him speak."

Kucinich, an Ohio congressman and the last Democrat campaigning for president against presumptive nominee John Kerry, spoke and answered questions for 75 minutes at a Hazel Dell church on Friday evening.

Kucinich made the...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:16 PM

 
Kucinich, in Oregon, urges Patriot Act repeal
Comes to Central Oregon on Monday

From Bend.com news sources
Posted: Saturday, April 17, 2004 9:18 PM
Reference Code: PR-14932

April 17 - PORTLAND - As President Bush on Saturday called upon Congress to renew the controversial Patriot Act, Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said, “It’s time for the Democratic Party to take a strong stand and call for the repeal of the Patriot Act.”

Kucinich, campaigning in Oregon in advance of that state’s May 18 primary election (including a Central Oregon swing on Monday), said that he is making the repeal of the Patriot Act one of the principal issues he intends to press with the leadership of the Democratic Party for inclusion in the party’s platform.

“It’s time for our party to show some backbone. It’s time to stand for the repeal of the Patriot Act. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, I spoke against it, I voted against it, and I introduced legislation for its repeal,” said the Ohio congressman. “In campaigning across America, it’s unmistakably clear that...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:14 PM

 
Matriotic Musings on Jefferson, Kucinich and The Divine Feminine
Meryl Ann Butler
OpEdNews.Com

As the Easter season blooms, and April of 2004 emerges as the month with the greatest loss of American lives since the Iraq war began, two of Thomas Jefferson’s quotes invite reflection:

A little rebellion now and then is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.

I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.

Jefferson, America’s third president, was born April thirteenth, 1743. The number thirteen[1] has figured prominently in American symbolism. In the original flag, the thirteen colonies were represented by thirteen stars forming a circle. Our current flag has thirteen stripes.

On both the obverse and reverse of the Great Seal of the United States, (which can be seen on the back of a one dollar bill) the number thirteen is seen in abundance. There are thirteen stars in the crest, thirteen stripes in the shield, thirteen letters in Annuit Coeptis, thirteen letters in E Pluribus Unum and thirteen courses of stone in the pyramid. The eagle holds an olive branch with thirteen leaves and thirteen olives in its right talon (representing peace, and the feminine), and thirteen arrows in the left (representing war, and the masculine). The gaze of the eagle, however, is firmly upon the olive branches, indicating America’s focus and destiny toward peace.

Thirteen is also the number traditionally associated with the Divine Feminine. In ancient times there were thirteen “moonths” in a year, since there are thirteen full moons, and therefore thirteen menstrual cycles annually. The thirteenth letter of the alphabet is “M,” a letter associated with many things feminine, including mother, mom, mama, mammary glands, menstruation and one of the most powerful feminine archetypes in the world, the Virgin Mary.

In its purest sense, American democracy is a reclaimation of...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:12 PM

 
Kucinich assails MetroHealth for bidding on Deaconess site
Saturday, April 17, 2004
Regina McEnery
Plain Dealer Reporter

A bid by MetroHealth Medical Center to buy the shuttered Deaconess Hospital for office space drew criticism yesterday from U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich's office, in large part because the $3.8 million bid will end any chance of restoring hospital services to the Old Brooklyn neighborhood.

During a hearing yesterday that lasted more than two hours, Marty Gelfand, an attorney for the congressman, said MetroHealth's offer wasn't significantly higher than the second-highest bidder, Diamond Healthcare Holdings Corp., which apparently was interested in re-establishing acute-care services at Deaconess.

Diamond Healthcare withdrew from the bid process, however, before the private auction was concluded.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Pat Morgenstern-Clarren is expected to rule on MetroHealth's bid early next week.

This is the second offer to...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:11 PM

 
Kucinich comes to OSU

The presidential candidate speaks with students, holds a peace rally Thursday

By Dan Traylor
The Daily Barometer

For Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, the next few weeks are all about Oregon and all about the issues -- especially the war in Iraq.

Kucinich, an Ohio congressman, spent much of Thursday on the OSU campus in hopes of picking up support ahead of the May 18 Oregon primary election.

Kucinich hopes his support will translate into change in the Democratic party platform.

"Iowa and New Hampshire decided the nomination," Kucinich told a crowd gathered in the Memorial Union Ballroom at noon. "Oregon has the opportunity to participate and send the party in a new direction."

Earlier in the day, Kucinich spoke to...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:10 PM

 
Kucinich visits University, delivers heartfelt message

The Democratic candidate appeared at the law school and EMU on Wednesday
By Beau Eastes
Freelance Reporter
April 16, 2004


With a seemingly endless passion, Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich brought his message of a more progressive and responsible Democratic Party to campus Wednesday night.

Speaking at a meet-and-greet at the EMU and to a standing-room-only crowd in the Knight Law Center, the Ohio congressman underscored his intent to revive the Democratic Party.

"Peace is inevitable if we're willing to work for it," Kucinich said. "This is the place it begins, here in Oregon."

Kucinich, who conceded that the Democratic presidential nomination is locked up by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., has committed to spending 27 days in six weeks campaigning for Oregon delegates to send to the Democratic Party's national convention in Boston. He hopes to use the Oregon primary on May 18 as a message to the Democratic Party.

"(It's the) obligation of the Democratic Party ...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:09 PM

 
Kucinich lesson: activism

Presidential candidate tells CHS students to pursue interests

By JESSE SOWA
Gazette-Times reporter

Dennis Kucinich began his political activism during his high school years. He was involved in many extracurricular activities and went to community meetings to find out what was going on in his neighborhood.

He soon realized he wanted to be involved in national politics, but he didn't know how.

Now an Ohio congressman and a Democratic presidential candidate, Kucinich spoke to several hundred Corvallis High School students Thursday morning, urging them to be active and pursue their interests.

It was Kucinich's second stop in Corvallis, after...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:08 PM

 
Kucinich puts issues above win

Rep. Kucinich sees Oregon primary as an opportunity to influence the party.

BETH CASPER
Statesman Journal
April 16, 2004

Rep. Dennis Kucinich isn’t asking Oregon residents to vote for him in the November presidential election.

Kucinich wants votes in the state’s May 18 primary.

“While Iowa and New Hampshire had a say in the Democratic nomination, Oregon can have a say in the direction of the Democratic Party,” Kucinich said Thursday to about 100 people at the Coffee House Cafe in downtown Salem.

Kucinich, an Ohio congressman, plans to spend 27 days before the primary in Oregon highlighting peace, health care, civil liberties and fair trade.

Kucinich said he wants to bring troops home from Iraq, implement a universal, single-payer nonprofit health-care system, end trade agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement and repeal the Patriot Act.

Those in the audience cheered when Kucinich said the United States should not have invaded Iraq.

“Dennis can let them know that a lot of people who are patriots want peace,” said Peggy Haas, 57, of Salem.

Kucinich’s ideas for a new health-care system appeal to Wayne Estes, 61, of Salem, who has been unemployed for 28 months. Until his wife found a job recently, Estes had been paying for health care out of their retirement savings.

Kucinich’s stand on spending more money on public education drew dozens of “yes” shouts from the crowd.

“We have an obligation to have a strong...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:07 PM

 
Opinion - In Our View: Kucinich Is Coming

Thursday, April 15, 2004
Columbian editorial writers

Dennis Kucinich, the gnat buzzing around the John Kerry bear, will alight at 6:30 p.m. Friday in a Hazel Dell church. There, the Democratic congressman will energize his followers and satisfy the curiosity of others, all of whom know he hasn't a prayer of winning the presidential nomination he seeks.

They likely will come by the ones, five and tens not the hundreds to the First Congregational United Church of Christ, the one with the "Viking ship" architecture at 1220 N.E. 68th St. He will speak at the Southwest Washington Labor Roundtable in town earlier in the day.

Kucinich, the only remaining active Democratic presidential contender other than Kerry, is in Oregon this week campaigning for...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:05 PM

 
Kucinich slams Medicare 'dismantling'

From Bend.com news sources
Posted: Thursday, April 15, 2004 8:42 AM
Reference Code: PR-14873

April 15 - Presidential candidate and Ohio Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich, campaigning in Oregon, voiced his concer Thursday his concern over the weakening of the Medicare system by the Bush administration.

"In my judgment, the so-called 'new' Medicare bill passed just before Thanksgiving 2003 was not about reforming Medicare, it was about
dismantling it," says Kucinich. "It is a Republican bait and switch of historic proportions, and if it is allowed to stand, it may well result in the unraveling of Medicare itself."

With early reports estimating that Medicare would run out of funding by 2019 - add that to the federal governments recent push to privatize the Medicare system - states such as Oregon are feeling the pinch of trying to afford basic needs provided by the system.

Medicare reimbursements in Oregon have been...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:04 PM

 
Opinions vary on Deaconess

By TOM CORRIGAN
Staff Writer

April 15, 2004

CLEVELAND — Local officials have some differing opinions on the possible sale of Deaconess Hospital to MetroHealth Medical Center.

MetroHealth offered what appears to be the best of nine bids proffered for the Old Brooklyn hospital, closed since November.

(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:03 PM

 
'Alamo,' Kucinich share uphill battles
Thursday, April 15, 2004
James F. Sweeney
Plain Dealer Reporter

The newest screen version of "The Alamo" ought to be required viewing for supporters of Dennis Kucinich's presidential bid.

Like the fighters holed up in the old mission in San Antonio, Kucinich knows the odds against him are impossibly high, yet he fights on. He faces certain elimination at the polls, but he does not cut his losses and run.

Like Davy Crockett (another congressman!), Jim Bowie and the others, Kucinich has his eyes on something bigger than the immediate battle. Sure, the defenders of...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:01 PM

 
Kucinich plans 27-day campaign tour of Oregon

He eyes the state’s large number of left-leaning voters.

The Associated Press
April 15, 2004

PORTLAND — Dennis Kucinich, the Ohio congressman who is John Kerry’s last real rival in the Democratic presidential race, plans to spend almost a full month campaigning in the state.

He hopes the state’s voters will give him a strong showing in the May 18 primary, lifting his candidacy into new prominence.

“This campaign will give the people of Oregon an opportunity to help chart the direction of the Democratic Party on Iraq,” Kucinich said this week during his third trip to the state in as many weeks.

Kucinich said he plans to spend 27 days in Oregon before the primary election. That would far exceed the time spent by any major party’s presidential candidate in Oregon in at least three decades.

Until 1972, Oregon was...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 2:00 PM

 
Kucinich to get real familiar with Oregon

By The Associated Press

PORTLAND — Call it the Oregon strategy.

Dennis Kucinich, the Ohio congressman who is John Kerry's last rival in the Democratic presidential race, plans to spend almost a full month campaigning in the state. He hopes the state's voters will give him a strong showing in the May 18 primary, lifting his antiwar candidacy into new prominence.

(He will appear in Corvallis today; see story in the Community section for details.)

"This campaign will give the people of Oregon an opportunity to help chart the direction of the Democratic Party on Iraq," Kucinich said this week during his third trip to the state in...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:59 PM

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 14, 2004
1:49 AM
CONTACT: Kucinich.US
Andy Juniewicz, 216-221-6598

Kucinich Says that Bush Failed to Answer the Number One Question


WASHINGTON - April 14 - On APRIL 13TH 2004 President Bush failed again to answer the one most crucial question that is on the minds of most Americans: "When will our troops come home from Iraq?" Ohio Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich says Bush promised more of the same no-end-in-sight vision that has marked this unjustified and illegitimate war from the beginning.

"The President's answers to questions about how long our forces will remain were as vague as ever and wholly predictable," Kucinich emphasized. The President's statements that, "We'll stay the course. We'll complete the job. We must not waiver. The United States will continue to occupy - his word - Iraq as long as necessary," makes it clear that this election is about world leadership and who is telling the truth to the American people. "It is not George W. Bush," says the Democratic Presidential challenger.

"Bush is prepared to escalate American involvement in the region," says Kucinich. "This administration is going to sacrifice the lives of our soldiers." The statements made by this President are alarming. "If more troops are needed," Bush said. "He will send them. Any concession or retreat," he went on, "will embolden the enemy."

Kucinich has some questions for the President. "When will Bush realize that our very presence in Iraq has become a lightning rod for increased hostility and increased violence?" The economic impact is profound. "We can't afford to stay the course. We need a new course - a reasoned and responsible way out, not a political rationalization for keeping our troops at risk indefinitely, and sending even more troops into harm's way."

"Given the President's unhesitating willingness to send more and more of our young men and women to a war that was launched on lies and exaggerations, how long will it be before he resorts to a reinstatement of the draft to feed the demands of a thoroughly flawed and totally failed foreign policy?" The Ohio Congressman who lead the vote against the invasion is emphatic, "We went to war for the wrong reasons. We continue to be at war for the wrong reasons. And it's time to ask the United Nations to assume responsibility so our troops can come home! This can only come about when the US takes an entirely new direction, reconnecting with the world community through the United Nations, letting go of ambitions to control the oil and the contracts, trying to privatize Iraq, and run the government by remote control."

###

http://www.commondreams.org/news2004/0414-01.htm
- posted by Daniel @ 1:57 PM

 
Posted: Apr 14, 2004 - 09:17:19 PDT

Kucinich takes his call for change to Newport
By Joel Gallob Of the News-Times

"Iowa and New Hampshire decided the nominee," Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich told an audience of 250 people Tuesday at Newport's Performing Arts Center. "Oregon can decide the direction of the Democratic Party, if Oregon speaks up on May 18 on Iraq, on health care, on the Patriot Act and constitutional rights. If Oregon speaks loudly in the primary, the whole country will know it."

With the Democratic contest over and John Kerry the party's nominee, Oregonians opposed to the policies of President Bush can vote their conscience by voting for Kucinich in the May 18 primary, he said, and not worry about helping Bush return to the White House. When asked if he feels Kerry is "an honorable man," Kucinich said "yes," but his focus was on the upcoming primary.

"The voters in the Oregon primary," he said, "can tell the party it must stand for something, stand for a new direction in war and peace, health care, civil liberties, fair trade and the environment. I don't believe people want a Democratic version of the Republican war in Iraq, a Democratic version of Republican corporate health care policies. We are at the end of the primary election cycle now, and the Democrats are putting their platform together. Oregon," Kucinich said, "can be the voice that decides the party really should stand for something."

Kucinich was brought to Newport by the Lincoln County Volunteers for Kucinich for President. He said he is running now not for office, but to...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:56 PM

 
Kucinich to get real familiar with Oregon

04/14/2004

Associated Press

Call it the Oregon strategy.

Dennis Kucinich, the Ohio congressman who is John Kerry's last rival in the Democratic presidential race, plans to spend almost a full month campaigning in the state. He hopes the state's voters will give him a strong showing in the May 18 primary, lifting his antiwar candidacy into new prominence.

"This campaign will give the people of Oregon an opportunity to help chart the direction of the Democratic Party on Iraq," Kucinich said this week during his third trip to the state in as many weeks.

Kucinich said he plans to spend 27 days in Oregon by the primary election. That would far exceed the time spent by any major party presidential candidate in Oregon in at least three decades.

Until 1972, Oregon was one of a handful of states that held a presidential primary, making it an important stop for candidates seeking to...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:54 PM

 
Published on Tuesday, April 13, 2004 by CommonDreams.org
My Political Suicide Note
As a Candidate for President, There are Certain Things That John Kerry Can't Say. But I Can.
by Mark Engler


Let's face it. There are certain things you can't say in politics, especially if you want to be elected President of the United States. We might get tired of politicians taking boring, middle-of-the-road positions on controversial issues. But do we really want it any other way?

Take John Kerry. From a progressive perspective, he's no Paul Wellstone. Then again, the candidate in the race who is politically closest to late, great Senator from Minnesota is Dennis Kucinich--and Kucinich has never been a contender. Having emerged from a closely fought Democratic primary, Kerry needs to beat Bush by focusing on core issues like health care, security, and the economy, without being drawn into wedge-issue debates.

But just because John Kerry can't take strong stances on dicey topics, it does not mean that these stances aren't right. Since I am not running for President, let me take this opportunity to offer my political suicide note. Whether talking about gay marriage, due process for accused terrorists, or socialized medicine, I can say what Kerry can't.

Like many politicians, Kerry takes what the Associated Press charitably describes as a "carefully crafted" position on the issue of gay marriage. The wire service explains that the Senator..(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:53 PM

 
Elderly activist joins Iowa campaign reformers

The bright floral scarf and wide-brimmed straw hat she wears add a dash of color to her outfit, but, at 94, the flash is in her eyes.

Doris "Granny D" Haddock, who gained attention four years ago when she walked 3,200 miles across the country in support of the federal McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill, sat at a coffee shop in downtown Ames Monday telling stories and talking politics.

"I look up to Sen. (John) McCain. I loved Paul Wellstone. I loved (Dennis) Kucinich," she said. "They say, 'He's not electable,' but someday maybe he will be."

Haddock stopped in Ames on a new campaign: mobilizing working women to vote. She's registering voters in swing states in the Midwest before she heads west to complete her tour later in the year.

Along the way, she has "swapped jobs" with...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:51 PM

 
Kucinich campaign hopes to move Kerry to the left

Democratic long-shot visits Boulder in lead-up to caucus

By Amy Hebert, Camera Staff Writer
April 10, 2004

At this point, a vote for Dennis Kucinich is a vote for John Kerry to move to the left, the long-shot Democratic presidential candidate and his supporters said Friday.

The Ohio congressman visited several Boulder venues throughout the day, encouraging people to send a message to the Democratic party by supporting him in the state's caucus Tuesday, even though Kerry has essentially secured the party's nomination.

"Iowa and New Hampshire decided the nomination, but Colorado has the chance to decide the direction of the Democratic Party," Kucinich told the crowd at a sold-out Vox Feminista stage performance at the Dairy Center for the Arts. "My candidacy is about providing a backbone for the Democratic party."

After speaking of his proposals for...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:50 PM

 
Kucinich to make a repeat appearance

By BENNETT HALL
Gazette-Times business editor

Candidate wants Oregon to steer party toward progressive goals

Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich will bring his road show back to Corvallis next week, with several appearances scheduled for Thursday.

At 9 a.m., the Ohio congressman and former Cleveland mayor will address a student assembly in the auditorium of Corvallis High School, 836 N.W. 11th St. His talk, titled "Redefining Democracy in America," will be open to the public.

At 10, Kucinich will attend...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:48 PM

 
Presidential candidate Kucinich visits campus

By Jamie Way
By Jamie Way
April 09, 2004

The rain did not keep Dean Powers and roughly 150 other people from listening to U.S. presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich speak on campus Thursday.

"I wanted to support the Democratic cause and I think Kucinich is a really noble guy," said Powers, a senior English major. "He's out there pushing ideas."

Powers said he was interested in what Kucinich had to say about education. Powers said he did not understand why the United States spends such large amounts of money on defense instead of education.

"It's astonishing how much we're spending on defense and not education," Powers said.

Kucinich visited the university, in particular, to discuss...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:47 PM

 
Kucinich in His Own Words

Kathleen McFadden of The Mountain Times and Jim Thompson of The Jefferson Post had the opportunity to interview Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio during his whirlwind tour of western North Carolina last Saturday. Much of the talk focused on the war in Iraq, but Kucinich also voiced his opinion on the Democratic Party and discussed the reasons for his continued candidacy. What follows are excerpts from the conversation.

Q: The Democratic Party seems to have abandoned its core constituency. What has happened?

Kucinich: That’s probably the most fundamental flaw in the two-party system today and that is that there isn’t enough of a two-party system. It’s more of a one-party system with two branches of a corporate party. When the Democratic Party started to take a lot of money from corporate interests, it began to change the whole meaning of the party. So it started with this reliance on a donor base that may not have a lot in common with the natural base of the party, the natural base being workers, advocates for social justice, for jobs, for healthcare, for education, for the environment. Those concerns are not considered . . . . So we have a problem where the party at the top stands for one thing and the party in the foothills stands for something else. So my candidacy is aimed at reminding the Democratic Party of the need to connect with people’s practical aspirations for jobs, for education, for healthcare, for a clean environment, for peace. So that’s what I’m out there doing.

Q: Is it working? You’re talking to us, but what about the party leadership?

Kucinich:...(Full Interview)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:44 PM

 
Kucinich in Oregon again challenges war effort

From Bend.com news sources
Posted: Thursday, April 8, 2004 12:04 PM
Reference Code: PR-14754

April 8 - Campaigning in Portland, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich warned voters in the remaining Presidential primaries that the June 30th transfer of power from the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority to an interim Iraqi government is deceptive and will not end the nightmare of bloodshed in the region.

Debating Republican Deputy Majority Whip Mark Foley on national TV from a studio in Portland, Kucinich warned that the arguments used for keeping American troops in Iraq are the same kind of arguments used to keep us in Vietnam.

“We’re getting into this deeper when we should be constructing a plan to bring the United Nations Peacekeeping forces in because the UN is the only way out. We could be in a war which could last ten or twelve years. The Democrats should be...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:43 PM

 
Dennis Kucinich Campaigns In Denver

POSTED: 11:36 am MDT April 8, 2004
UPDATED: 12:08 pm MDT April 8, 2004
DENVER -- John Kerry may have effectively wrapped up the Democratic presidential nomination, but Dennis Kucinich hasn't stopped campaigning.

He arrived at Denver International Airport Thursday morning to several dozen supporters.

He said he knows...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:42 PM

 
Kucinich: Changing the face of America

Matt Petrie
April 08, 2004

Whenever Dennis Kucinich gets any attention from the media, the focus is so often on the seemingly impossible odds of his victory that his strong stances on big issues are forgotten.

But when the Ohio congressman and democratic presidential candidate visited a Portland State political science class yesterday, he was all about the issues.

Kucinich, whose campaign platform includes goals like withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, universal healthcare and repeal of the Patriot Act, seems to know that he is not going to win the Democratic Party's nomination. But he said he hopes his candidacy will "take up the discussion that was lost" in...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:41 PM

 
April 7, 2004

Kucinich fans set for Inaugural Ball Friday

ROSEBURG: Supporters of presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich plan to go one better than last month's "Who Wants to Marry a Presidential Candidate" pageant. They plan to hold an Inaugural Ball for Kucinich, even though the candidate hasn't won a single primary.

Kathryn Maxwell of Tuscon, Ariz., the winner of the pageant, will return to preside over the ball, to be held Friday at the Umpqua Valley Arts Center, 1624 W. Harvard Ave.

The gathering will include political skits, talent presentations, music and dancing. Maxwell will also deliver an inaugural address.

The evening is meant to be all in fun, while spreading the word about Kucinich and his political platform, organizers said.

Kucinich, the former mayor of Cleveland who serves in the House of Representatives, supports workers rights, opposed...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:40 PM

 
April 7, 2004

Presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich visits AM Northwest

PORTLAND, ORE. - Presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich paid a visit to the AMNW studios on Wednesday, visiting with KATU's Ken Ackerman and Helen Raptis.

The democratic U.S. Representative from Ohio says..(Full Story & video link)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:37 PM

 
Democratic candidate to visit campus

By Jamie Way
By Jamie Way
April 07, 2004

A candidate for United States president is coming to CSU on Thursday.

"He's a serious guy with an incredible range of public service," said CSU Political Science Professor Scott Moore. "He has things to say and he's not going to tell you what you expect to hear."

Dennis Kucinich, the candidate, is scheduled to hold a campus rally in the Shepardson Building, room 118, on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Although John Kerry has secured the Democratic presidential nomination, Kucinich continues to campaign.

"I tend to take more seriously people who are campaigning who have the least chance of winning," Moore said. "He's got a message and he believes in it."

Kucinich generally takes liberal stances on issues such as the World Trade Organization, the Iraq War, labor issues and environmental issues. Due to his belief in sustainability, Kucinich is even a vegan, meaning he does not eat meat or any animal by-products like eggs and milk.

"He'll probably try to poke a hole in the conventional wisdom, and there's no better place to do that than on a college campus," Moore said.

The College Republicans have reacted by..(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:35 PM

 
Kucinich decries violence, U.S. policy in Iraq
The Democrat remains in the presidential race and will speak and attend fund-raisers in Portland today
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
DAN HORTSCH

The continuing deadly violence in Iraq makes it "absolutely urgent that this country take a new direction in Iraq," Dennis Kucinich said Monday in Portland.

Kucinich, the congressman from Ohio who remains in the Democratic presidential race, said the deepening cycle of violence emphasizes the need for the United States to "pick up the pieces of a shattered relationship between the U.S. and the U.N." and turn over peacekeeping duties in Iraq to the United Nations.

The United States, he said, should let Iraqis control their destiny. "Installing handpicked people" as leaders, he said, "may intensify the violence."

Kucinich, who had events scheduled Monday in Hood River, will appear in Pioneer Courthouse Square at noon today and has other Portland events set for later in the day.

At a Monday news conference in Terry D. Schrunk Plaza, Kucinich said he is continuing his primary campaign in Oregon to allow voters to "voice their concerns about this war" as well on issues such as health care, trade and the USA Patriot Act.

The goal, he said, is to...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:33 PM

 
Kucinich, in Oregon, warns of another Vietnam
Democrat says administration 'needs to realize Iraq is a dead end'

From Bend.com news sources
Posted: Monday, April 5, 2004 10:32 PM
Reference Code: AR-14694

April 5 - PORTLAND - In the wake of the deadliest 48 hours of the U.S. occupation of Iraq, Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich warned Monday that the continuing U.S. military engagement there “will seem like Vietnam all over again.”

“The messages we’re hearing today – ‘stay the course,’ ‘as long as it takes,’ – are the same messages were heard then,” Kucinich said. It was
a “failed strategy” then, he said, and it is a failed strategy now.

“This has to stop,” Kucinich said at a news conference in Portland. “The (Republican) Administration needs to recognize that Iraq
is a dead end,” Kucinich told reporters, and his own Democratic Party “needs to take a strong stand against the war and in support of bringing
our troops home.”

Kucinich, the last remaining challenger to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry, said, “It was wrong to go, and
it’s wrong to stay.”

Pointing the mounting death toll of U.S. military personnel, Kucinich said, “More than 600 brave men and women have lost their lives, and the violence continues to escalate. It’s time to...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:09 PM

 
Kucinich makes Boone stop
04/07/2004 By Scott Nicholson

U.S. Representative of Ohio and Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, in a Boone campaign stop Saturday, made a point of admitting that Sen. John Kerry already had his party’s nomination locked up.

“Look, I can count,” he said, referring to the primaries and delegates that have assured Kerry of the Democratic spot on the general election ballot. “The nomination’s assured but the direction of the country is not, nor is the definition of what the Democratic Party stands for.”

Kucinich’s speech at Appalachian State’s Rosen Hall received enthusiastic reception from an audience of several hundred. He had made an earlier stop at the Hospitality House in Boone.

Kucinich’s message was a mixture of optimism and challenge, and though he made no apologies for his liberal views, he also urged understanding of...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 1:00 PM

 
May 16, 2004

Kucinich has his day

By Sarah Hancox
Staff Writer

April 05, 2004

Crowds of people waving flags and carrying banners for peace gathered in Carrboro on Sunday to hear a speech by Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio.

It was the first time that a well-known presidential candidate visited the town, and in honor of the occasion, Mayor Mike Nelson proclaimed Sunday "Dennis Kucinich Day."

The celebration took place at the Carrboro Farmers' Market at 301 W. Main St. and was sponsored by Nelson and North Carolina Kucitizens.

The event opened with a peace chant led by Jon Seskevich of Universal Chanting, followed by songs sung by the Raging Grannies. "Welcome Dennis, welcome Dennis, we love you," sang the Grannies as Kucinich took the stage. In his speech, Kucinich stressed the need for a clear vision for the Democratic Party that would address the issues of the common people.

Kucinich is campaigning on a platform that calls for universal health care, withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization, the repeal of the USA PATRIOT Act, universal prekindergarten through college education and the development of clean energy.

He also

DTH/Justin Smith
Supporters Bert Geiger and Bob Plonsey listen to the speech.
criticized...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 12:59 PM

 
Kucinich: Oil co. profiteers pushing up gas prices

From Bend.com news sources
Posted: Saturday, May 15, 2004 5:00 PM
Reference Code: PR-15546

May 15 - The record-shattering gasoline prices that Americans are paying at the pump are the result of two related factors, Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich charged today: the war in Iraq and the profiteering of major international oil companies.

"If we weren’t at war, American consumers wouldn’t be paying more than $2 a gallon for gasoline," Kucinich said, while campaigning in Oregon, where gasoline prices were reported as high as $2.43 a gallon.

"The war, the occupation, and a foreign policy that creates fear, uncertainty and instability throughout the Middle East have created...(Full Story)
- posted by Daniel @ 12:47 AM